The Kosher Bookworm Two Takes on Two New Talmud Translations

This past week witnessed two events that brought the Talmud into central focus, one positive, the other negative.

First, we have the positive, which involved the first publication of an English translation and commentary of the first volume of the Talmud in the Land of Israel.

Entitled, “Koren Talmud Bavli:Berachot,” this work encompasses a basic translation of the Talmud text, with an elucidation of the same text. Further, there are sidebar segments that highlight relevant Halacha, brief biographies of relevant personalities, clarifications of Aramaic words derived from Arabic, Greek, Persian and Latin origins, as well as a section dealing with historical background information.

Also featured are portions of the Talmud that were suppressed by non-Jewish authorities down through history, most fully restored based upon careful study of medieval manuscripts.

This expansive commentary is based upon the original historic Hebrew commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Yisrael [Steinsaltz] who personally oversaw the translation of this work together with the staff of the Shefa Foundation and the Koren Publishers.

Complementing this work, is the inclusion of an enhanced version of the Vilna Shas, completely digitally reset with both the Talmud and Rashi commentary vocalized and punctuated to help facilitate the proper and efficient pronunciation and comprehension of the sacred text and commentary.

This work is of great sentimental value to me inasmuch as I studied from this original work in my years at Yeshiva University. Also, the current work has as its editor-in-chief, Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, the former Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union and a former teacher of mine at the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School from where Rabbi Weinreb received his rabbinical ordination.

In his introduction, Rabbi Weinreb states that, “Rabbi Steinsaltz excels in his ability to weave helpful explanations into the text without compromising its integrity. He has also supplemented the translation with informational notes, providing the readers with essential context for a full understanding of the subtleties of each Talmudic passage.”

“In this masterful Hebrew translation, Rabbi Steinsaltz does not merely facilitate the task of the novice Talmud student. Rather, he provides the student with the skills to eventually study the text on his or her own, without resorting to the translation.”

The history of English translation began in earnest in the 1960s in England with the publication of the Soncino Talmud. This work was primarily a translation with brief footnotes aimed at further explaining the core text.

The Artscroll editions two decades later further developed this concept and enhanced the footnotes into a full supplemental commentary to the basic elucidated translation that became the hallmark signature of that work.

Today, this American produced work can be found in just about every Jewish educational institution and synagogue of every denomination and has served as the foundational element to popularize the study of Talmud worldwide.

With the publication of the expanded Koren edition in Israel, the translation skills projected in this work gives us a further enhancement of the quality of the English translation that makes it far more understandable from all previous cognate works. This fact alone gives this new work a dimension that is surely worthy of your consideration and patronage.

Now the negative event of this past week:

The Middle East Studies Center, [MESC], based in Jordan, issued an introduction to a projected Arabic translation of the Talmud.

According to a translation of that introduction made available by the Anti-Defamation League,[ADL], the MESC stated the following:

“These texts confirm the racist and hostile perception toward non-Jews, especially those who threaten the ‘chosen nation’ and stand in the way of its ambition and hopes. There is no doubt that Israel is the best example of this racist position, both in the level of its daily crimes against the Palestinians and the level of its rejection and contempt for international resolutions and laws. For what applies to other countries in the world does not apply to contemporary Israel, as it is unique….Jews, according to this racist position [of the Talmud] are permitted to do what is not permitted for non-Jews.”

Further on the ADL states that, “Al-Jazeera has specifically promoted this book as a contribution to the ‘establishment of Arabic language Jewish studies’ as well as claiming that the translation ‘identifies the features of the Jewish character that blend elements of racial superiority with Mosaic teachings’.”

Not just for the fact that the Israeli produced Koren Talmud Bavli is such a high quality work of Torah scholarship, but, also given the rancid regard by certain bigoted elements in the Moslem world toward our basic holy writ, should we, as proud Jews, consider the patronage of this new work, the first of its kind to be published in Israel, as a mark of our firm support for the people and the State of Israel.