I have recently been looking into Judaism and I would like to buy a book that would give me some insight about the religion. I would like to buy a Torah but with some explinations along with the text. Thanks to everyone in advance. :)
2007-11-19
06:35:58
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11 answers
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asked by
tightest embrace 0:)
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Society & Culture
➔ Religion & Spirituality
daipm: you sure like cut and paste don't you?
2007-11-19
06:40:33 ·
update #1
Andy D: Yes I own a copy of the Bible, and I have read it many times, however I am looking for the Jewish explination about these books, not the Christian take. If you have any info, please update. Thanks :)
2007-11-19
08:20:57 ·
update #2
You can buy what is called an Etz Chaim, which is the Torah plus the important notes and commentaries that have been written about it over the centuries. But since you're only looking into Judaism, I would recommend going to your library and looking through their Etz Chaim, since Jewish books like this are usually pretty expensive.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780827607125&itm=1
Also, the Tanakh is the whole Jewish Bible: the Torah is the first five books. For a Tanakh, I would recommend either
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781578191093&itm=9
or
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780827606975&itm=3
Basically, anything with Stone or Artscroll on it is best.
Also, there is a free edition of the Tanakh online (at the link below) but it only has commentary from one specific sage, and you may find it confusing.
Feel free to email me if you need any help
Peace
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/63255/jewish/The-Bible-with-Rashi.htm
2007-11-19 09:37:16
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answer #1
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answered by LadySuri 7
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You've already discovered what all the Jews who come here to Y/A are daily frustrated by viewing: Every question asked of Jews about Judaism is seen as an opportunity by some Christians to either answer with inappropriate Christian dogma that is completely incorrect about Judaism or to use it as forum for missionizing.
Here is a link to the Torah in a line by line translation, transliteration and audio to hear it in Hebrew should you so wish to do so.
http://bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp
Lady Suri already gave you a good link to the Tanakh.
To help you understand Jewish concepts in comparative analysis to Christian concepts and why missionary attempts fail with Jews who know our own scriptures read http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/
Here is another great site for learning from Jewish texts and at the home page you'll find the sacred texts of all the world's major religions. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/index.htm
And lastly, you can read the same Torah portion that Jews all over the world study each week through this web site http://www.aish.com/torahportion/
It breaks the study down into various levels of age or prerequisite understanding.
The Torah is read from beginning to end each year in the synagogue and portions of the rest of the Tanakh that relate to specific areas of Torah called Haftorah are also read. The aish site is also a great source of Jewish learning.
I hope these are helpful.
Good luck and Shalom :)
2007-11-19 18:29:04
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answer #2
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answered by ✡mama pajama✡ 7
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The Torah is only the first 5 books of the Old Testament. You are looking for the Tanakh which is what Jews call the Old Testament. I would recommend getting the Jewish Publication Society's translation since it is accurate unlike Christian versions which add, remove and misinterpret words.
For a book to understand Judaism i would recommend "To be a Jew" which was targeted towards non observant Jews but is good for people who just want to learn as well.
2007-11-19 11:48:30
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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When I need to learn all about something, I humble myself as a ignorant student and even buy one of those Whatever for Dummies or Whatever for Idiots, those books are wonderful and really instructional. Amazon and BN always have these or even go to their website, the website for those 2 series of books! Hope that helps? I too want to learn more about the Torah as I want to know the whole Bible and to understand that the Old Testament is talking about Jesus the whole time too, the OT prophesized a Messiah that would come and save all of us and Isaiah 53 and so many other places indicate a Savior who humbled himself and died for all of us so that we could reconnect with God again. You have every right to be totally Jewish, I have many, many Jewish friends and they are truly WONDERFUL people and we owe it to Israel to bless their people and also, you might want to look into www.jhm.org, John Hagee explains a lot about Israel, the Torah, and why we should support our Jewish people as the chosen people. The Jews were the first community who recognized God and honored God. Not Adam and Eve, they were the first humans but they didn't listen. The Jewish leaders in the Bible were the first ones who honored God because they realized God made them first. Email me anytime and TEACH ME about the Torah!!!!
2007-11-19 06:46:01
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answer #4
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answered by marvieopiemkbooks 1
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It is great you are interested in Judaism! The first thing you should do is go to askmoses.com. Here there is a live rabbi 24 hours a day 6 days a week (not on the sabbath). The rabbi can talk to you and see what level you are at and then get you in touch with a local rabbi who lives in your community that will be happy to get you all the reading material you can use. If you need, the books can all be loaned to you for free!
Good luck!
Ralph
2007-11-19 06:41:16
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Go get a copy of the Talmud. It is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. The Talmud has two components: the Mishnah (c. 200 CE), the first written compendium of Judaism's Oral Law; and the Gemara (c. 500 CE), a discussion of the Mishnah and related Tannaitic writings that often ventures onto other subjects and expounds broadly on the Tanakh.
2007-11-19 06:40:26
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answer #6
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answered by jkhawaja 4
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Technically, the torah is the first 5 books of the old testament, so you probably already have a copy....
2007-11-19 08:13:59
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answer #7
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answered by Andy D 4
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go to artscroll.com
Their "Stone" Chumash is the most comprehensive translation and commentary on the five books of the Torah that has ever existed. They also have a large selection on all types of books (philosophy, law, biographies, etc.).
2007-11-19 08:55:47
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answer #8
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answered by jake613 1
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If you want a Torah (the five books of Moses) with commentary I would recommend this.
http://www.artscroll.com/Books/stoh.html
I have one and I find it useful.
but if you really want something more about the fundamentals of Judaism
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780156106986&z=y
that might be better.
2007-11-19 06:52:02
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answer #9
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answered by Gamla Joe 7
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honestly, I usually just use god wiki for these types of inquiries. the libraries usually have a good selection of books too; I suggest looking through those (200's in dewey decimal and BL's in Library of Congress system) and maybe the books at your favorite bookstore. then, you can go to amazon.com and get the must have books and let them sit on your shelf and collect dust :)
2007-11-19 07:44:12
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answer #10
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answered by somebody 4
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