The Living Torah Hebrew: The Five Books of Moses and the Haftarot/Hebrew and English in One Volume

Rating:
Summary: The clearest, most precise translation I've seen
Review: Aryeh Kaplan's translation of the Chumash is top-notch -- clear, complete, and precise. His footnotes provide excellent additional information. An excellent way to study Torah if you don't understand the Hebrew.

Rating:
Summary: Outstandingly sensitive translation, excellent notes
Review: This is one of the clearest, most readable translations of the Torah (Five Books of Moses, i.e., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) on the market. I especially recommend it to readers of Aryeh Kaplan's books on Kabbalah and meditation, because the Torah is the basis upon which Jewish mysticism is based. Kaplan's vast knowledge of the Jewish mystical sources is evident here also. He brings to his translation work a deep sensitivity that not only renders the literal meaning of the text, but also clarifies the implied meaning through careful choice of words and detailed footnotes, including maps, diagrams, and drawings of different species of plants and animals, common utensils, clothing, etc. described in the text. In many cases, these are updated from previous English translations, based upon the flora and fauna of Israel, as well as archaeology. (The "turtle" in the old King James Version is not a reptile, it's a bird -- the turtledove.) The diagrams in Leviticus are especially helpful in visualizing the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the species of permitted and forbidden foods. (How many of us know what a hyrax looks like?) I use this translation regularly in my own Torah studies, and recommend it to anyone who either does not read Hebrew, or who wants a good commentary to go along with the Hebrew text. Ten stars!

Rating:
Summary: Outstandingly sensitive translation, excellent notes
Review: This is one of the clearest, most readable translations of the Torah (Five Books of Moses, i.e., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) on the market. I especially recommend it to readers of Aryeh Kaplan's books on Kabbalah and meditation, because the Torah is the basis upon which Jewish mysticism is based. Kaplan's vast knowledge of the Jewish mystical sources is evident here also. He brings to his translation work a deep sensitivity that not only renders the literal meaning of the text, but also clarifies the implied meaning through careful choice of words and detailed footnotes, including maps, diagrams, and drawings of different species of plants and animals, common utensils, clothing, etc. described in the text. In many cases, these are updated from previous English translations, based upon the flora and fauna of Israel, as well as archaeology. (The "turtle" in the old King James Version is not a reptile, it's a bird -- the turtledove.) The diagrams in Leviticus are especially helpful in visualizing the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the species of permitted and forbidden foods. (How many of us know what a hyrax looks like?) I use this translation regularly in my own Torah studies, and recommend it to anyone who either does not read Hebrew, or who wants a good commentary to go along with the Hebrew text. Ten stars!