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Loading... Essential Torah: A Complete Guide to the Five Books of Mosesby George Robinson
   None No current Talk conversations about this book.  neotradlibrarian | Nov 25, 2007 |  no reviews | add a review
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Whether you are thinking about studying the Bible for the first time or you’re simply curious about its history and contents, you will find everything you need in Essential Torah. George Robinson, author of the acclaimed Essential Judaism, begins by recounting the various theories of the origins of the Torah and goes on to explain its importance as the core element in Jewish belief and practice. He discusses the basics of Jewish theology and Jewish history as they are derived from the Torah, and he outlines how the Dead Sea Scrolls and other archaeological discoveries have enhanced our understanding of the Bible. He introduces us to the vast literature of biblical commentary, chronicles the evolution of the Torah’s place in the synagogue service, offers an illuminating discussion of women and the Bible, and provides a study guide as a companion for individual or group Bible study. In the book’s centerpiece, Robinson summarizes all fifty-four portions that make up the Torah and gives us a brilliant distillation of two thousand years of biblical commentaries–from the rabbis of the Mishnah and the Talmud to medieval commentators such as Rashi, Maimonides, and ibn Ezra to contemporary scholars such as Nahum Sarna, Nechama Leibowitz, Robert Alter, and Everett Fox. This extraordinary volume–which includes a listing of the Torah reading cycles, a Bible time line, glossaries of terms and biblical commentators, and a bibliography–will stand as the essential sourcebook on the Torah for years to come. No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)222.1061Religion The Bible Historical books of Old Testament PentateuchLC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4.1)
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Wikipedia in English (2)
1
I have been through a number of books about the Bible, but they have mainly focused on the New Testament. As corrective, I picked up this, which looks at the Torah.
It is a tricky subject, reading a book designed for Jews as a Christian. I am reading this book for insights into how Jews understand and make use of a sacred book which they share with Christians. Most of the established commentary on the Torah post-dates Jesus. So much of it does not provide any insight into how Jesus or his Jewish followers would have understood and used the text. It does indicate how the thought of the Jews of Jesus' day has developed.
Still, this is a fascinating book. Jews, who Christians must admit know a bit about this text, interpret much of it very differently than many Christians do. While the plain text is important, it is far from paramount. Since they are reading it in the actual language and not translation, the placement of words, the alliteration, the rhymes and rhythms, the punctuation all count as part of the "plain reading." This is very different from some "literal" Christian commentaries, that are based more on English translations than the actual text.
Robinson quotes extensively from the centuries of commentary, showing the range and variety of opinion. Lacking a temporal authority to enforce any exclusivity, a thousand flowers blossomed. Fiat doesn't matter, but competent authority does.
The first half of the book is an overview of the text and how it has been interpreted. I found it very informative. The second half is a week by week run through of the readings with brief commentary. I found this less interesting just because 54 weeks/chapters made it seem long.
Robinson is the author of Essential Judaism (not read). (