Rating: 
Summary: From the Big Guy Himself
Review: I sincerely appreciate everyone who buys this particular volume, or any translation and volume of the Bible. It is good for you. Trust Me.(Hey Amazon folk - this is supposed to be funny, - I hope you think so too!)
Rating: 
Summary: Too light for my eyes...
Review: I was very disappointed with the print quality in the edition I bought. The print was GREY, not BLACK. This makes for difficult reading. I purchased the $24.50 edition, which was described as "Leather Bound." The reviews all stated that they described the "Leather Bound" edition, which were, however, linked to adds for a $52.50 edition of the book. I'm wondering if the more expensive edition has significantly better print. If it does, this should have been noted. I might have decided to put out the extra money for a better quality item. As things stand now, I am returning the disappointing GREY-printed edition.
Rating:
Summary: Too light for my eyes...
Review: I was very disappointed with the print quality in the edition I bought. The print was GREY, not BLACK. This makes for difficult reading. I purchased the $24.50 edition, which was described as "Leather Bound." The reviews all stated that they described the "Leather Bound" edition, which were, however, linked to adds for a $52.50 edition of the book. I'm wondering if the more expensive edition has significantly better print. If it does, this should have been noted. I might have decided to put out the extra money for a better quality item. As things stand now, I am returning the disappointing GREY-printed edition.
Rating:
Summary: Too light for my eyes...
Review: I was very disappointed with the print quality in the edition I bought. The print was GREY, not BLACK. This makes for difficult reading. I purchased the $24.50 edition, which was described as "Leather Bound." The reviews all stated that they described the "Leather Bound" edition, which were, however, linked to adds for a $52.50 edition of the book. I'm wondering if the more expensive edition has significantly better print. If it does, this should have been noted. I might have decided to put out the extra money for a better quality item. As things stand now, I am returning the disappointing GREY-printed edition.
Rating: 
Summary: great
Review: im not qualified to review this text but I should say it has been a joy to own it. A wonderful edition, easily readible.
Rating:
Summary: great
Review: im not qualified to review this text but I should say it has been a joy to own it. A wonderful edition, easily readible.
Rating: 
Summary: If you had to have one Bible . . .
Review: JPS has produced the best known, non-Christian, translations of the Bible. (There is no such thing as an Old Testament-just a Bible as opposed to a Christian Bible!!) The relatively famous JPS Tanakh (acronym of Torah, Nevi'im/Prophets, and Ketuvim/Writings and spelled various ways--TN'K, Tanach, Tenach)is fine for an English translation and carried out by acknowledged experts. But let's be frank. You don't have a Bible if you do not have the original Hebrew next to the translation. If you really study Bible you do or will come to realize this, and will never be satisfied with just the vernacular. The English (our vernacular language) is just an attempt to convey the meaning of the Hebrew. So it makes sense to have both, side by side. There are a number of Bibles that include both, Christian and Judaic products, most notably one of my favorites the Koren Jerusalem Bible. But here is what you need for a useful tool after you have both Hebrew and English:
*The Hebrew Text should include as much of the Masoretic structure and features as possible (can't go into "Masoretic" here). DOn't expect it to include the Masoretic notation (Mp, Mm)[You'll need a BHS, Aleppo, Leningrad MS in Hebrew for this type of thing and Okla v'Okla]. But it MUST have the parshas (weekly readings for the Torah all Jews worldwide read together). Included in the Masoretic Text are some interesting features like enlarged letters, text written with spaces to appear like stacked brick (song of the Sea Shemot/Exodus 15) for example. There's too many beauties of the Hebrew to describe---but make sure yours get in as many of them as possible!!!! *Typeface is very important. You are used to English and your mind can "recontruct" words in a bad English font. But Hebrew is a different matter. The Hebrew should be large and clear, especially the niqqudim (vowel-points and accent marks some of the others mention--btw, most Hebrew primary religious texts will show vowel-points). A small Hebrew type can be a disaster (I have to use a magnifying glass and reading glasses to read some of my books like Jastrow's Sefer Millim). *Personal pref- I like a Bible that tries to bring across Hebrew names instead of Anglicizations (ex., Moshe rather than Moses; Yerushalayim> over *bindingSo how does JPS H/E Tanakh stack up here? Typography excellent!!! Masoretic features-parshas, no Masoretic notes really, and all is shoved in a column for sake of page layout instead of MT format. JPS uses the anglicizations ;-( but is in modern language ;-) The JPS H/E Tanakh comes in several bindings. I have the "leatherish" thick, flexible, industrial strength plastic and I think it will hold up. It has a ribbon marker insertd in the binding. In other words, this binding (and paper)is similar to the binding on Christian Bibles. (You could walk down the street with it and not be missionized!!!! ;-) Get it. It is well worth $... The Koren Bible I mentioned differs in that it keeps much more MT format, but its typography is tooo small, but it does not anglicize proper nouns and even symbolizes Het and Tsade (whch I can't do here). So if you must choose one, choose the one you can see all the text with the naked eye--JPS H/E.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Hebrew-English Bible - Excellent Translation!
Review: JPS' "Hebrew-English Tanakh: The Traditional Hebrew Text And The New JPS Translation" is the best Bible I have seen for the purpose of study. The translation is superior and when in doubt, the Hebrew text is right there, alongside the English, to compare. This edition was recommended to me when I began a two year course on Judaism and Jewish Life sponsored by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This JPS edition of the Tanakh, composed of the Pentateuch, the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Kethuvim (Writings), was translated from the original authoritative Hebrew text into the modern idiom of English in three stages, representing the collaboration of academic scholars with rabbis from the three major branches of organized Jewish life in America. The Torah was published in 1962, The Prophets in 1978, and the Writings in 1982. The text preceding the Preface, and the Preface itself, include an excellent history of the Hebrew text. I have read this edition through, and find it to be a most rewarding experience. The English translation is the closest to the original Hebrew that I have seen. The print is clear and easy to read and the notes are superior. The Hebrew font is large enough to read without eye strain, and includes vowels - which is a plus for me. And the book is beautifully bound. I continue to refer to it almost daily for study purposes and for my own personal edification. I think this is one of the best book purchases I have ever made.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Hebrew-English Bible - Excellent Translation!
Review: JPS' "Hebrew-English Tanakh: The Traditional Hebrew Text And The New JPS Translation" is the best Bible I have seen for the purpose of study. The translation is superior and when in doubt, the Hebrew text is right there, alongside the English, to compare. This edition was recommended to me when I began a two year course on Judaism and Jewish Life sponsored by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This JPS edition of the Tanakh, composed of the Pentateuch, the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Kethuvim (Writings), was translated from the original authoritative Hebrew text into the modern idiom of English in three stages, representing the collaboration of academic scholars with rabbis from the three major branches of organized Jewish life in America. The Torah was published in 1962, The Prophets in 1978, and the Writings in 1982. The text preceding the Preface, and the Preface itself, include an excellent history of the Hebrew text. I have read this edition through, and find it to be a most rewarding experience. The English translation is the closest to the original Hebrew that I have seen. The print is clear and easy to read and the notes are superior. The Hebrew font is large enough to read without eye strain, and includes vowels - which is a plus for me. And the book is beautifully bound. I continue to refer to it almost daily for study purposes and for my own personal edification. I think this is one of the best book purchases I have ever made.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Translation, Beautiful Publication
Review: Not only does this edition of the Tanakh provide an excellent side-by-side translation, it is also a handsome book with a good, readable typeface.
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