Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 11-01-2010, 10:41 AM

Perhaps this is a companion thread to Chistian biblical illiteracy.

Steinsaltz completes Talmud translation with Global Day of Jewish Learning

Quote:

Steinsaltz began his translation project in 1965, motivated by the desire to make the Talmud more accessible to Hebrew speakers, primarily the secular Israeli public. Whereas reading the Torah is not difficult for a native speaker of modern Hebrew, the Talmud is written in an arcane Aramaic-Hebrew jargon and is notoriously difficult to navigate, daunting for those not trained in its way of dialectical argument.

"The language is a barrier for people looking to master the Talmud," Blau said. "By translating it into Hebrew, Rabbi Steinsaltz made the Talmud available to be studied by people stymied by that language barrier. That is a massive accomplishment."

...

"The Talmud is the central pillar of Jewish knowledge, important for the overall understanding of what is Jewish," he told JTA. "But it is a book that Jews cannot understand. This is a dangerous situation, like a collective amnesia. I tried to make pathways through which people will be able to enter the Talmud without encountering impassable barriers. It’s something that will always be a challenge, but I tried to make it at least possible."

stephan huller · 11-01-2010, 11:02 AM

I think Jewish people are slightly better informed about their CUSTOMS. The logic of the continuation of Judaism after the destruction of the temple is still wanting. It used to be said that there would only be a return after the appearance of the messiah. This is at least as old as the Yosippon. It is strange that almost two thousand years of theology can be thrown out the window when political opportunity arises without anyone doubting for a moment the sanctity of the same two thousand year old tradition.

Everyone of the sages was ultimately wrong about the central theological concern of the Jewish nation - the return - but somehow this is still a holy tradition.

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11-01-2010, 11:02 AM	#2
stephan huller Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 9,337	I think Jewish people are slightly better informed about their CUSTOMS. The logic of the continuation of Judaism after the destruction of the temple is still wanting. It used to be said that there would only be a return after the appearance of the messiah. This is at least as old as the Yosippon. It is strange that almost two thousand years of theology can be thrown out the window when political opportunity arises without anyone doubting for a moment the sanctity of the same two thousand year old tradition. Everyone of the sages was ultimately wrong about the central theological concern of the Jewish nation - the return - but somehow this is still a holy tradition.

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