Back To The Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Superb introduction to Jewish texts:

Back to the Sources is a collection of essays by eminent scholars in their field on the major texts of the Jewish religious tradition. The topics covered include, Bible, Talmud (includes Mishnah and medieval law codes), midrash, medieval biblical commentaries, medieval philosophy, kabbalah (sans pop stars), hasidic tales, and the siddur (the prayerbook). The essay on the Bible covers the literary aspects of modern scholarship. The Talmud and midrash essays help the reader understand the classical rabbinic... more info

How to read the Jewish sources:

This work is a kind of reader's guide to reading traditional sources. One chapter for Torah, another for Tannach as a whole, another for Mishnah, another for Gemara. Then there are chapters on Kabbalah, Hasidut, the Siddur. Each of the chapters can be read individually. There are also helpful illustrations for instance of the text of the Gemara.
The essays are written with intelligence and elegance.
The work is highly recommended especially for those who are interested in learning more about... more info

good stuff:

Northrop Frye, Harold Bloom, and Robert Alter ALL say something good about this book on the back. Those are three giants, each to be listened to closely.

Excellent introduction to classic texts:

"Back to the Sources" provides a superb introduction to the classic Jewish texts: the Bible, Talmud, Midrash, medieval Bible commentaries (legal codes are discussed in the chapter on Talmud), medieval philosophical works, Zohar and other kabbalistic works, Hasidic teachings, and the prayer book. Each chapter is written by a different scholar, who is an expert in the text or texts at hand. All of the authors write clearly for non-experts and provide superb guidance, whether you are planning to start reading... more info

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