Customer Reviews

The Living Torah : The Five Books of Moses and the Haftarot - A New Translation Based on Traditional Jewish Sources, with notes, introduction, maps, ... & index (English and Hebrew Edition)

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This is one of the clearest, most readable translations of the Torah (Five Books of Moses, i.e., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) on the market. I especially recommend it to readers of Aryeh Kaplan's books on Kabbalah and meditation, because the Torah is the basis upon which Jewish mysticism is based. Kaplan's vast knowledge of the Jewish mystical sources is evident here also. He brings to his translation work a deep sensitivity that not only renders the literal meaning of the text, but also clarifies the implied meaning through careful choice of words and detailed footnotes, including maps, diagrams, and drawings of different species of plants and animals, common utensils, clothing, etc. described in the text. In many cases, these are updated from previous English translations, based upon the flora and fauna of Israel, as well as archaeology. (The "turtle" in the old King James Version is not a reptile, it's a bird -- the turtledove.) The diagrams in Leviticus are especially helpful in visualizing the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the species of permitted and forbidden foods. (How many of us know what a hyrax looks like?) I use this translation regularly in my own Torah studies, and recommend it to anyone who either does not read Hebrew, or who wants a good commentary to go along with the Hebrew text. Ten stars!

Aryeh Kaplan's translation of the Chumash is top-notch -- clear, complete, and precise. His footnotes provide excellent additional information. An excellent way to study Torah if you don't understand the Hebrew.

As a long time teacher of Torah studies (about 50 years, this is the only English/Hebrew printed Torah that I regularly recommend to students. The English is both concise and modern... and faithful to the Hebrew.

The font chosen for the Hebrew text is wonderful and exceptionally easy to read.

R. Michael Jacobs

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, of blessed memory, was an amazing stand-out genius. Not only was he a highly revered Rabbi and Kabbalist with brilliant lingistic, authorial and editorial skills - he was also a nuclear physicist and artist. You know, the type who tries to visualize a 7th dimensional figure inside a 12th dimensional figure rotating slowly in space (or something like that, its inside Jewish Meditation).

This said, I think that The Living Torah provides one of the most clear translations of the Torah from Hebrew with footnotes explaining certain ideas. It also contains, for synagogue use, the Haftorah portions read weekly and on holidays. The Hebrew is clearly printed with nekudot (the dots and lines that make up the vowels in Hebrew).

This is not a text for people who wish to study the Torah in depth with Rashi and other commentaries - it is also not translated line by line the way the Birnbaum text is (which does have Rashi by the way). But it is excellent for people who want to read the story-line of the Pentateuch in an accurate modern English translation. And it is immensely useful for synagogue use, especially for those congregations which are not all Hebrew-reading and speaking.

I'd recommend it for the library of almost every American religious home of any persuasion.

This version of the Five Books Of Moses is awesome, so easy to understand. Filled with maps, Family tree diagrams and picture examples. This is great for children and adults.

This is a Jewish translation of a JEWISH BOOK. It is a beautiful translation. And it is the version I keep in my study library and close to hand, next to my hand-transcribed digital sheet version and scroll (digital) of the Torah. Having been ordained in 1979, I found Christians and particularly those of the 'evangelical variety' to be extremely ignorant of Jews and anything pertaining to the origins and meaning within the Torah or the 'Old Testament' in general... this is not a blasting criticism, it is to point out that 'Faith' and 'Belief' are two very different things. Faith is based in facts and knowledge, belief is not. If you want faith in what you read, you must understand its basis, its original intent its original language. R. Aryeh, wrote from the perspective of Faith. What you 'read' can be based in Faith or Belief, read enough study it enough delve into it enough learn about the People of the Book and you too can find yourself reading in a position of Faith...
I am not a Jew, but neither am I a 'believer', I can now read with Faith. And Rabbi Aryeh helped me with his translation of the Torah to get there.
Get this book. Keep it read it over and over and over! never stop. There is more to meet the eye than one can ever dream of at first view. This IS a Living Torah!
I really wish preachers and all these zealot 'believers' would learn some Hebrew from Jews(!) and talk to Jews and study the background of the Torah and the entire Tanach before rambling on about the 'name of G-d', of which they really know nothing about.
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Manuel Colunga-Hernandez
"www.sunfightercomix.com"

The 5 books have an amazing translation. There are also helpful pictures and drawings when appropriate. there is an explanation of words that are crucial to the understanding of the parsha when needed.
Shalom
Stan

This is a beautiful book filled with information clear and concise very easy to read would recomend to any one interested in Judaism.

This is by far the best english translation of the Five Books of Moses, written by one of the greatest minds to have lived in the last thousand years. It reads like a novel,without sacrificing the authentic literal meaning of the text. The footnotes are precise and informative. This volume is a requirement for any Jewish home.

If you're looking for a concise handbook geared towards those unfamiliar with the beliefs, practices, and guidelines of Orthodox Judaism, you should try The Outsider's Guide To Orthodox Judaism It's a great gift for your "outsider" friend, boss, or coworker.

For a book on insights and thoughts on the Torah try Deep Waters: Insights Into The Five Books Of Moses And The Jewish Holidays

Read a few of the other reviews.
Aryeh z"l is by a modern master of the Kabbalah.
Your knowledge and practice of this lore will be vastly enhanced when you read this book, particularly the footnotes.Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation