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Summary: From the perspective of a non-Jewish clergyman. . .
Review: . . .this excellent new translation is a tremendous resource. As most persons are aware, the Jewish Scriptures form part of the Canon of the Christian Scriptures as well. However, the experience that many Christians have had with the Hebrew Bible has been minimal at best, typically involving only the most familiar Bible stories. Reading the Hebrew Bible from a Jewish perspective has been difficult for most Christians, except those with training in the Hebrew language. This new translation of the Hebrew Scriptures provides, in clear and readable English, wonderful insights into both ancient and modern understandings from perspectives unfamiliar to many Christians. (I found the footnotes particularly helpful). This is a volume which is a "must-have" for any Christian member of the clergy, regardless of denomination. It will be money well-spent.
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Summary: Tanakh offers essential education
Review:
I just finished reading Tanakh cover to cover.
As a Muslim reader of the Jewish Scriptures I feel enriched in a unique way. The Muslim Holy Book, the Qur'an, refers extensively and repeatedly to the Covenant God made with the Children of Israel. And even though I had read and heard about this for as long as I can remember, I think I have gained a much deeper insight and understanding than ever before, a perspective I am not sure I could have availed of elsewhere. Oh yes, I had read (actually *tried* to read) other translations of the Old Testament prior to reading Tanakh. This lucid translation helped me achieve what six years of Jesuit schooling and a decade old interest in comparative religion could not!
It may be difficult to believe, but reading Tanakh will actually help me understand some fine points in the Qur'an even better. I would recommend it to all Muslims, particularly those living in the West, and perhaps to all people, as an essential part of one's education in life.
Thanks to grandma for letting me borrow her copy, and thanks to our friends at Temple Beth Shalom for the bautiful gift. Just a note to Al Herary - Al, I am buying my own copy! :-)
--Suhail Farooqui
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Summary: The best edition of the Hebrew Bible!
Review: Cover to cover, you simply cannot find a better edition of the Hebrew Bible. To new readers, the translation may seem different, but I trust JPS with over a hundred years of scholarship, and so the words of G-d come through as authentic in these pages. Two thumbs up!
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Summary: Absolutely Beautiful
Review: Excellent work. I have been looking for a Torah for ages, one that I can call my own. Translated to layman's English, this priceless Scripture is a MUST-HAVE, and goes perfectly with "The Bedside Torah." The only improvement I can think of would be to have it bound so that it reads from back-to-front.
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Summary: Absolutely Beautiful
Review: Excellent work. I have been looking for a Torah for ages, one that I can call my own. Translated to layman's English, this priceless Scripture is a MUST-HAVE, and goes perfectly with "The Bedside Torah." The only improvement I can think of would be to have it bound so that it reads from back-to-front.
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Summary: An excellent beginning...
Review: for those of us still coming up to speed on biblical Hebrew. I do enjoy this translation which is very readable and accessible, although (like any translation) there are some passages others prefer to read from another translation. Its a very good volume for those beginning to study Torah. This edition's only drawback is that its size is a bit awkward for travel. I would also recommend the JPS Hebrew-English pocket TANAKH-- the same JPS translation, the Hebrew print is suprisingly readable, and it makes an excellent travel companion.
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Summary: An excellent beginning...
Review: for those of us still coming up to speed on biblical Hebrew. I do enjoy this translation which is very readable and accessible, although (like any translation) there are some passages others prefer to read from another translation. Its a very good volume for those beginning to study Torah. This edition's only drawback is that its size is a bit awkward for travel. I would also recommend the JPS Hebrew-English pocket TANAKH-- the same JPS translation, the Hebrew print is suprisingly readable, and it makes an excellent travel companion.
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Summary: Perfection - Enlightenment
Review: Having been raised in the Christian church I am especially blessed to recieve a perfect translation of the traditional Hebrew texts. I can feel the power of the words as never before and in my persuit of a personal relationship with the almighty this has become a most important tool. I have coupled this with the NSRV translation of the New Testament and Apocryphal books and with the Qur'an (2nd Edition translated by A. Yusef Ali) to find my placement. I urge anyone of any faith to pick this translation up and know the difference between reading the traditional Christian Old Testament and feeling the power of the Hebrew Tanakh.
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Summary: excellent read
Review: I am a Religious Studies major. Since I already possessed a Protestant and Catholic bible, I figured I need a Hebrew bible to complete my studies. The Tanakh was quite enlighting. The actual text is similar, but different from christian bibles. Like the Quran it's in a class all of it's own. I recommend it to all.
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Summary: A new experience...
Review: I bought the Tanakh solely because it was the version required for an Old Testament class at a Christian Seminary I attend. I didn't know what to expect initially, because I had never heard of it before. I must say I really enjoy the translation. It is the first time since the translation of the LXX that a large group of Jewish scholars have come together to translate the Jewish sacred texts. It was nice to read a Bible that was free of Christian influence, even though I am a Christian in faith. The translation is based on the traditional Masoretic text, but it uses the LXX and the Dead Sea scrolls when the Masoretic text is obscure. There are also scriptural readings for various feasts and holy days. Overall, I find the translation readable and scholarly. As a Christian, I always have more "Christianized" versions around too, such as the RSV, REB, and NRSV, but it is important to have other scholarly translational perspectives as well. I do wish there would have been maps and some commentary included in the hardcover...perhaps in a future edition. As a side note, the paperback version has a few typos in the text that the hardback lacks.
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