minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow) (11/26/85)
Has the Talmud (Mishnah, Gemara, etc.) been translated into English (along with enough additional information to make it understandable to someone not well-versed in Jewish theology?) Yes, I'm aware that my request is akin to, say, "Brain-surgury made simple" or "Calculus in five easy lessons", so no flames on that score. While I'm curious for myself (a brief look in a local bookstore turned up nothing), this note was prompted by a similar question by Don Black (8-Aug-1985) who stated that his only source for Talmudic questions has been "so-called 'hate-literature'" and that he "asked a book dealer a year ago to find [him] one. [He's] still waiting." Martin Minow decvax!minow
rib@arrow.UUCP (RI Block) (11/27/85)
There have been a few translations of a least parts of the Talmud into English. Of these, the Soncino translation in its various legitimate and pirate editions is the only complete translation still available. The various editions are available from many outlets in Jewish neighborhoods (i.e. Brookline (Boston), Fairfax (LA), etc.). However, I'm afraid that you will find a great deal of difficulty in understanding Talmud simply by reading this translation in the same way that you would have difficulty in understanding Electrical Engineering simply by reading an EE Handbook. There are readable works which cover (very selected) portions of Mishna and Talmud: Adin Steinsalz "The Essential Talmud" comes to mind.
mr@homxb.UUCP (M.RINDSBERG) (11/28/85)
> Has the Talmud (Mishnah, Gemara, etc.) been translated into English > (along with enough additional information to make it understandable > to someone not well-versed in Jewish theology?) > > Yes, I'm aware that my request is akin to, say, "Brain-surgury > made simple" or "Calculus in five easy lessons", so no flames on > that score. > > While I'm curious for myself (a brief look in a local bookstore > turned up nothing), this note was prompted by a similar question > by Don Black (8-Aug-1985) who stated that his only source for > Talmudic questions has been "so-called 'hate-literature'" and > that he "asked a book dealer a year ago to find [him] one. > [He's] still waiting." > Martin Minow > decvax!minow YES. The Talmud has been translated into english. BUT if one is not well versed in the ideas of Judaism then portions will present certain problems in understanding. It is called: Hebrew-English Edition of the Babylonian Talmud Published by: Traditional Press, New York, NY Mark
ellis@zeus.UUCP (Ellis Cohen) (11/29/85)
> Has the Talmud (Mishnah, Gemara, etc.) been translated into English > (along with enough additional information to make it understandable > to someone not well-versed in Jewish theology?) Other than the Soncino edition(s), I know of no translation into English of the *entire* Talmud. However, I know of two translations of parts of the Talmud, each of which is excellent: (1) The "El Am" Talmud, with English Translation and Commentary. It starts from the ground up and includes extensive explanations of Talmudic discussion forms and vocabulary. For example, the first chapter of "Berakhoth" (Benedictions) runs some 26 pages in the standard Hebrew-language editions of the Talmud -- but is covered (*very* readably) on 278 pages in the El Am edition. The only drawback is that it exists only for a very small subset of the books making up the Talmud. As far as I know, the complete set runs some 6 volumes. The editor of this series is Rabbi Dr. A. Zvi Ehrman, and the copy I'm looking at was [re- ??] published in 1982. Any good Jewish bookstore should be able to get a copy. (2) The ArtScroll Mishnah Series, published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 1969 Coney Island Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11223 includes a good portion of the Talmud by now (and they're continually adding to the series -- right now, at least 9 volumes are currently in print). This Series assumes a greater familiarity with Talmudic concepts than does the El Am (it explains fewer of the underlying assumptions and terms) -- but Mesorah has published an *excellent* English-language reference work. Ellis Cohen uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,ihnp4,allegra,hplabs}!tektronix!teklds!ellis CSnet: teklds!ellis@tek ARPA:teklds!ellis.tek@csnet-relay Bell:503-629-1344 USmail:MS 92-826, Tektronix, PO Box 4600, Beaverton, OR 97075