Something to read when the going gets tough?

Many people struggle with the very long synagogue services that characterise our High Holy Days -- Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. One way to face this challenge is to bring in a book to read during parts of the service that are hard to understand, or when concentration slips and some appropriately Jewish distraction is sought.

If you are thinking of taking something to read, why not try a commentary on Pirkei Avot? The subject matter is serious enough, but accessible, and plenty of its teachings are directly relevant to seasonal topics such as God's judgement, reward and punishment. 

Here are some suggested commentaries you might want to try:

• The Koren Pirkei Avot, commentary by Rabbi Marc D. Angel, translation by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Commentary and translation are modern, idiomatic and to the point. Some of the comments are quite thought-provoking, relating to contemporary social and political conditions.
  
  
• Avoth, in the Me'am Lo'ez series. Commentary by R' Yitzchak Magriso, translation by David N. Barocas. An easy read with a midrashic flavour and plenty of homilies.
  
  
• Eternal Ethics From Sinai, by R' Yaakov Hillel. Not for the faint-hearted, this commentary pulls no punches: either you are on the right path or you are emphatically not. Lots of painful mussar. Vol.1 has much material on God's judgement and the values of truth, justice and integrity.
  
  
• Visions of the Fathers, by R' Abraham J. Twerski. This much-loved and highly readable ArtScroll work highlights the psychological dimensions of Avot. 

There are of course many other English-language works on Avot and we are always open to suggestions and recommendations. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us!