Rating: 
Summary: An excellent starting point
Review: This is an excellent Chumash but it must be made clear that it is a "beginners guide", a starting point to the Torah. If you only want one Chumash in your library then make this the one. Being a convenient, easy to read, concise one volume Chumash, the author had no choice but to narrow his commentary. After all, you cannot fit the waters of the ocean into a bucket. One must understand that the commentary does not even scratch the service of inner meaning of the text. It is simply a minimum line or put in a positive way, a springboard to further study. So I suppose it is only fair of me to suggest another Chumash that one can advance to. "The Call of the Torah" by Rabbi Elie Munk is a five-volume set also published by Artscroll. Rav Munk combines both the classic commentaries of Rash"i, Ramba"m, Ramba"n etc, the "peshat" of his teacher Rav Hirsh and also the more hidden Torah of Kabbalah. This as well as his own beautiful and intelligent ideas, adds up to a Chumash that is a must for all Jews that wish to delve just that little bit deeper.
Rating: 
Summary: No translation is value free
Review: This is definitely a post-modern commentary, not trying to reconcile science and enlightenment-rationalism with Torah's historical accounts, but focusing on text as history, not metaphorically as done pre-modern. (see Karen Armstrong "Battle
for God" for more discussion on this). A contrast with the 1936 Hertz "Modern" commetary, with its apologetics for the text that he attempt to reconcile with science and enlightenment values. But, before you buy Stone, read the commentary on Jeremiah 1- 5 Eichah (page 1273) to see if you agree with the translator's
Theology: "God was/is tough on Jews because he loves us".
Does this give comfort in context of Holocaust? And compare the free-form translation of Song of Songs page 1263 to see how Rabbi Scherman applies his point of view, usually more subtly than in this section. 1936 Hertz Chumash (available used) with its 1917 JPS translation is definitely influenced by Authorized (King James) version wording- not all bad with its English prose bordering often on Poetry, and its vocabulary that sounds authoritative. The downside of this is mitigated by Rabbi Hertz's commentary, which often argues with the translation, offering a safe-guard for English speakers who can't go back to the Hebrew. Translations are important even to Hebrew speakers who are not scholarly enough pickup to the metaphoric and other references in the Hebrew, or have the philogical history as Hebrew word meanings migrate. Hertz commentaries, though dated, are interesting and make sense to a classic liberal-educated person. I always check troublesome/important passages in multiple Chumashim and their commentaries. RECOMMENDATIONS:
Stone is so pervasive, no good Jewish Home Library should be without it, but it would not be my first choice. A used Hertz is probably a "best buy" and a "must have" for the same reason as Stone. Reform Plaut is much more interesting and eclectic in his commentary and references and acknowledgement of the Discourse and disagreements about the meanings of the text. I have not seen the new JTS Conservative Chumash yet, but it sounds interesting - but $$$.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Job by the Good Folks at Artscroll
Review: This is my Chumash of choice. Why? The translation is lucid, the commentaries are enlightening and the layout, format & typeface is beautiful. What else is there? Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Job by the Good Folks at Artscroll
Review: This is my Chumash of choice. Why? The translation is lucid, the commentaries are enlightening and the layout, format & typeface is beautiful. What else is there? Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
Rating:
Summary: I love the Stone Edition Artscroll Chumash
Review: This is the best book on all of amazon.com for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Jewish? Speak English? You need this book.
Review: This presentation of the Chumash was very well planned and printed. I have used it since it came out. The translation is clear and the sources cited are authoritative Rabbinic ones. Like all of the Artscroll publications, this is destined to become the standard in the English speaking world. An unexpected bonus is the appendix which clearly lists the Temple offerings which is remarkably detailed yet concise. I recommend that every English speaking Jewish household acquire a copy of this, regardless of what other publishers' are already owned. This is singular in its quality.
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