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Religion

The Talmud: A Biography

The life and times of an enduring work of Jewish spirituality

Paperback

Price:
$17.95/£14.99
ISBN:
Published (US):
Sep 1, 2020
Published (UK):
Sep 22, 2020
Pages:
320
Size:
5.5 x 8.5 in.
Illus:
10 b/w illus.
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The Babylonian Talmud, a postbiblical Jewish text that is part scripture and part commentary, is an unlikely bestseller. Written in a hybrid of Hebrew and Aramaic, it is often ambiguous to the point of incomprehension, and its subject matter reflects a narrow scholasticism that should hardly have broad appeal. Yet the Talmud has remained in print for centuries and is more popular today than ever. Barry Scott Wimpfheimer tells the remarkable story of this ancient Jewish book, explaining why the Talmud is at once a received source of traditional teachings, a touchstone of cultural authority, and a powerful symbol of Jewishness for supporters and critics alike.

Awards and Recognition

  • Winner of the 2018 National Jewish Book Award in Education and Jewish Identity, In Memory of Dorothy Kripke