Rating: 
Summary: A thorough introduction and summary
Review: Abraham Cohen's _Everyman's Talmud_ was the first complete English introduction to the Talmud when it was published in 1928. So far as I know, it has never been surpassed.It is admirably thorough. In about 400 pages Rabbi Cohen hits all the major Talmudic themes: God and man, revelation, Jewish practice including ethics and jurisprudence. Filled with well-chosen quotations and explicated by Rabbi Cohen's crisp, scholarly expository prose, the volume is not at all a quick and easy read; you will want to take your time with this one. But your efforts will be well repaid. Not that I'm an expert myself -- but if I had to pick just one introductory volume on the Talmud for those who simply want to know what it says, this would be it. Highly recommended as an overview of rabbinic theology. (My own copy is the 1967 edition, so I can't comment on Jacob Neusner's introduction.)
Rating:
Summary: A very helpful work for the ' reader'
Review: By organizing the words of the Talmud into 'topics' or 'themes' and collecting together teachings from various tractates Abraham Cohen provides an excellent means for most readers to learn what the Talmud says in many areas of life. Traditional ' learning' is a different story entirely and involves going through each tractate as it is written. And while the Tractates are organized around subjects they often contain much diverse matter. Also ' learning 'them involves an intense kind of study most often with a ' chavruta' or learning partner, or in another framework with others. That kind of study is much different from simply reading as it involves a much more slower, more difficult and deep process of intellectual understanding. This work is a good one for the ' reader' but ' learning' as such requires a different kind of investment and effort.
Rating:
Summary: Just about all you need to know
Review: If You can't afford the hundreds of dollars to purchase or the hundreds of hours to peruse the entire Talmud, this book is for you. It is well constructed with key passages referenced and in most case the most prominent teachings have been explained thoroughly. It is, however, a readers digest version of the complete ancient work and some areas of thought are left lacking. I am just beginning my exegetical study of this book and have found it quite enlightening thus far...I look forward to my time of study in it regularly as I use it to supplement my study of the ancient Holy Scriptures, the Bible.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Starting Point
Review: If You can't afford the hundreds of dollars to purchase or the hundreds of hours to peruse the entire Talmud, this book is for you. It is well constructed with key passages referenced and in most case the most prominent teachings have been explained thoroughly. It is, however, a readers digest version of the complete ancient work and some areas of thought are left lacking. I am just beginning my exegetical study of this book and have found it quite enlightening thus far...I look forward to my time of study in it regularly as I use it to supplement my study of the ancient Holy Scriptures, the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Just about all you need to know
Review: This book is a great overview of all those volumes of the Talmud. It contains many of the most common little stories and teachings. After reading this you will have a working familiarity with many ideas of Judaism
Rating:
Summary: Portal into the world of the Talmud
Review: This book is a landmark - "a comprehensive survey of the doctrine of this important branch of Jewish literature... a summary of the teachings of the Talmud..." in the words of its author. Jacob Neusner's "foreword" describes it as the "first classic introduction of the Talmud to the English language." As Neusner states: "The greatness of Cohen for the beginner is that he tells us the single most important thing we can know about the Talmud, which is what it says." Abraham Cohen was born in 1887 and died in 1957. His work is a groundbreaking opus that was originally published in 1931; he revised it in 1948. (In 1931 the Talmud had not yet been translated into English!) Neusner's foreword, as well as Cohen's original 23-page introduction, are marvelous and deserve intensive re-reading. (Just one example of Cohen's support for the novice is his practice of defining words: e.g. Talmud = "study"; Halachah = "walking", the way of life to tread in conformity with the precepts of the Torah., and so on.) The only weak area in the foreword and introduction is that of history. (Here I found the perfect remedy: part 1 of Adin Steinsaltz's book `The Essential Talmud' - also available through amazon.com). Readers should be aware that Cohen's book is not organized as is the Talmud: you will NOT find the six orders (seder) divided into tractates (masekhet) and chapters (periqim). Instead he divides this great work into 11 chapters: (1) The Doctrine of God, (2) God and the Universe, (3) The Doctrine of Man, (4) Revelation, (5) Domestic Life, (6) Social Life, (7) The Moral Life, (8) The Physical Life, (9) Folk-Lore, (10) Jurisprudence, and (11) The Hereafter. ----- Those new to the Talmud should be advised that Talmud, which signifies "study," is devoted to the ORAL Torah (not The Bible, also referred to as TNK or Tanakh). The core of the ORAL Torah is the Mishnah, or codification of the Halachah, compiled by the Tannaim (scholars/teachers) beginning with R. Akiva and ending with R. Judah Ha-Nasi (who died in 217 C.E.). It was written in Hebrew. Somewhat later the Amoraim (interpreters/speakers/expounders) compiled The Talmudic commentaries. (In fact there are actually two Talmuds, the more prestigious Babylonian Talmud, and the less esteemed Palestinian Talmud, both written in dialects of Aramaic, the language of the people. R. Ravina completed the compilation of the Babylonian Talmud in 499 C.E.) A word of caution: the term Talmud refers to these two documents, which include both the Mishnah (corpus of oral law), and the Gemara (completion -- or commentary on the Mishnah) - but the term "Talmud" also can be used as a synonym for Gemara! (Like referring both to the white of an egg, and the whole ovoid package as "egg".) ------ As one might gather I found Cohen's book very informative. But like any summary, it mainly should serve as jumping off point to explore the original document(s). The Babylonian Talmud (available in at least two English translations) awaits me. Looks like a long journey!
Rating:
Summary: Portal into the world of the Talmud
Review: This book is a landmark - "a comprehensive survey of the doctrine of this important branch of Jewish literature... a summary of the teachings of the Talmud..." in the words of its author. Jacob Neusner's "foreword" describes it as the "first classic introduction of the Talmud to the English language." As Neusner states: "The greatness of Cohen for the beginner is that he tells us the single most important thing we can know about the Talmud, which is what it says." Abraham Cohen was born in 1887 and died in 1957. His work is a groundbreaking opus that was originally published in 1931; he revised it in 1948. (In 1931 the Talmud had not yet been translated into English!) Neusner's foreword, as well as Cohen's original 23-page introduction, are marvelous and deserve intensive re-reading. (Just one example of Cohen's support for the novice is his practice of defining words: e.g. Talmud = "study"; Halachah = "walking", the way of life to tread in conformity with the precepts of the Torah., and so on.) The only weak area in the foreword and introduction is that of history. (Here I found the perfect remedy: part 1 of Adin Steinsaltz's book 'The Essential Talmud' - also available through amazon.com). Readers should be aware that Cohen's book is not organized as is the Talmud: you will NOT find the six orders (seder) divided into tractates (masekhet) and chapters (periqim). Instead he divides this great work into 11 chapters: (1) The Doctrine of God, (2) God and the Universe, (3) The Doctrine of Man, (4) Revelation, (5) Domestic Life, (6) Social Life, (7) The Moral Life, (8) The Physical Life, (9) Folk-Lore, (10) Jurisprudence, and (11) The Hereafter. ----- Those new to the Talmud should be advised that Talmud, which signifies "study," is devoted to the ORAL Torah (not The Bible, also referred to as TNK or Tanakh). The core of the ORAL Torah is the Mishnah, or codification of the Halachah, compiled by the Tannaim (scholars/teachers) beginning with R. Akiva and ending with R. Judah Ha-Nasi (who died in 217 C.E.). It was written in Hebrew. Somewhat later the Amoraim (interpreters/speakers/expounders) compiled The Talmudic commentaries. (In fact there are actually two Talmuds, the more prestigious Babylonian Talmud, and the less esteemed Palestinian Talmud, both written in dialects of Aramaic, the language of the people. R. Ravina completed the compilation of the Babylonian Talmud in 499 C.E.) A word of caution: the term Talmud refers to these two documents, which include both the Mishnah (corpus of oral law), and the Gemara (completion -- or commentary on the Mishnah) - but the term "Talmud" also can be used as a synonym for Gemara! (Like referring both to the white of an egg, and the whole ovoid package as "egg".) ------ As one might gather I found Cohen's book very informative. But like any summary, it mainly should serve as jumping off point to explore the original document(s). The Babylonian Talmud (available in at least two English translations) awaits me. Looks like a long journey!
Rating:
Summary: Important for Christians
Review: This book is a wonderful introduction to the traditions of post exilic Judaic thought. It is divided into chapters that make sense (topically) to those of us not familiar with the Talmudic and Rabbinical writings themselves. Cohen covers all the most important traditional ideas from the Talmud, including mystical elements like folklore and magic. Contains an excellent index. Christians will find this book very eye-opening in terms of understanding the New Testament, particularly with regard to discussions in the NT about the traditions of men. It also includes a thorough history of the names and dates and key players in the development of modern Judaism. It helped me separate the facts from the theories. Be sure to read all the front matter: the foreword, the preface by Cohen, and the introduction. If you don't, you will not fully appreciate the contents in the remaining chapters.
Rating:
Summary: Important for Christians
Review: This book is a wonderful introduction to the traditions of post exilic Judaic thought. It is divided into chapters that make sense (topically) to those of us not familiar with the Talmudic and Rabbinical writings themselves. Cohen covers all the most important traditional ideas from the Talmud, including mystical elements like folklore and magic. Contains an excellent index. Christians will find this book very eye-opening in terms of understanding the New Testament, particularly with regard to discussions in the NT about the traditions of men. It also includes a thorough history of the names and dates and key players in the development of modern Judaism. It helped me separate the facts from the theories. Be sure to read all the front matter: the foreword, the preface by Cohen, and the introduction. If you don't, you will not fully appreciate the contents in the remaining chapters.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Entry Into The Talmud
Review: This book provides a good knowledge of the basic doctrines in the Rabbinic writings. It shows how meticulous the Jewish rabbis were in their study and exegeting of the Tanakh. It is apparent that these sages took the commandment of the Lord to Joshua to heart (Joshua 1:8). Abraham Cohen does an excellent job in organinzing material and backing up his words with many quotes from the rabbinic writings. For me as a gentile believer in the Jewish Messiah Yeshua it challenges me to study the word of God. However it saddens me to see this detailed of study but to see the Jewish people miss the revelation of Yeshua as Messiah. I recommend this book to anyone interested in a basic understanding of what the Rabbinic traditions teaches. "Hear Oh Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one." Duet. 6:4
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