Customer Reviews

Practical Talmud Dictionary (English and Hebrew Edition)

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This is a dictionary of the key terms that mark the structure of the talmudic argument. It does not cover every word in the talmud (for that, consult Marcus Jastrow's dictionary); but it does define the structurally important words that define the shape of the talmudic argument. The definitions cover everything a beginner needs: the literal meaning of the Aramaic, the Hebrew equivalent of the Aramaic, the structural meaning of the word or phrase, at least one example printed in Hebrew with an English translation. In the many cases where a phrase or sequence of phrases has a special meaning, these larger rhetorical units are discussed under separate entries.

There is a useful dictionary of common talmudic abbreviations at the end of the volume.

I have required all of my students at the University of Chicago and Hebrew Union College to buy this book. It's great. Buy it. You'll love it!

The book - jacket points to the following features:
This dictionary has not only individual Aramaic and Hebrew words, but also Talmudic expressions.It explains how terms and expressions function in their Talmudic context. There is a comprehensive list of acronyms of the Talmud. Most entries are illustrated with examples. Verbs are alphabetized by basic forms that appear in the Talmud and not by grammatical roots. Talmudic expressions are alphabetized according to the first word and cross- referenced at other key words.
I enjoyed reading the dictionary , going from entry to entry as the eye and association led me. This is of course not the primary use of the work, but it indicates just how user- friendly this valuable work is.

In its short time on the market, Frank's dictionary has become a standard companion for students of Talmud across denominational lines. His entries are thorough and useful, providing clear translations of Talmudic terminology and expressions to the novice and the advanced student alike. It is simply a must-own for anyone who intends to study Talmud in Aramaic.

If you're looking for an informative, useful and above all, user friendly Dictionary that specifically deals with East Babylonian (Talmud haBavli), Aramaic, then this is the dictionary for you. It does more than simply provide a word and its related meaning, but also provides English words, and a quotation in the Talmud itself. It lists verbs according to their usage in the Talmud, rather than according to their roots... This is a dictionary I keep by my side when studying the Talmud.

But all is not perfect...Not every word in the Talmud is translated however, this is a minor point, of which the author is well aware, and does not diminish this work at all. It derives from Melamed's Aramaic-Hebrew Dictionary and Jastrow, as well as a comprehensive Talmudic Concordance.

If students and scholars are serious about the Talmud then this companion is certainly a must-buy. Be sure to also get "Grammar for Gemara" by the same author - the second edition aids as much as the Dictionary does, and includes a brief section on Mishnaic Hebrew, and is interspersed with examples from the Aramaic Targums as well as the Aramaic of the Talmud haBavli.

If you're studying the Talmud, get both these books, they clarify meaning far more than Jastrow's Dictionary of the Talmud, Targums and Midrashim (which is a literal dictionary of all words).

I found this dictionary much easier to use than Jastrow, and still it has enough depth to be extremely useful. It has helped improve my understanding and comprehension of the talmud by 1000%! (Okay, I might be slightly facetious, but it really has helped immensly). I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to study talmud.

This book was recommended to me by my rabbi when I started studying Talmud and I don't see how you can study Talmud without it. It's certainly a must-have. I also recommend the companion volume Grammar for Gemara and Targum Onkelos by the same author.

I am 15 years old, and taking a beginner Gemarrah class at a Jewish high school. This book works as a guide for the key words, phrases, and expressions of the Gemarrah. It translates each word in a way which can be easily applied to the text in various contexts, and then goes on to explain how the word is used, and how it influences the structure and logic of the Gemarrah. It is important to note that this book is not a complete dictionary of every word in the Gemarrah, rather a guide for those who are starting out and need basic guidance. If you're looking for a complete dictionary, you'll want to go with the Jastrow, which you can either buy on amazon, or view online for free (just search "Jastrow" in Google and click on the first link).