The Babylonian Talmud is often cited as the bedrock upon which Judaism stands. And yet, it remains a closed book for the majority of Jews. Since the Talmud's composition does not follow the rules of Western writing, beginning learners are often thwarted in their first attempts to "swim in the sea of Talmud." These modern learners often experience rabbinic literature as a sort of stream-of-consciousness writing that seems to wobble off-track quite frequently. Frustrated, these learners often give up. To understand the Babylonian Talmud (also called the Bavli) readers need to understand its process of composition and the fundamental differences between Western and rabbinic writing styles. Judith Abrams's The Babylonian Talmud: A Topical Guide is a teaching tool and a reference book for those who teach and learn Talmud. It explains the Babylonian Talmud's literary nature and metaphorical meanings.

The Babylonian Talmud: A Topical Guide (Studies in Judaism)

Religion & Spirituality

Abrams, Judith Z.

Judaism

University Press of America

In A Beginner's Guide to The Steinsaltz Talmud, Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams selects a fascinating and provocative section from the Talmud and helps students to reap the vast rewards that can be achieved when one encounters Rabbi Steinsaltz's historic, ground-breaking work. With the publication of The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition, it is now possible for the modern reader to study Judaism's great compendium of Jewish law and legend for the first time. The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition is more than just a translation. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz becomes our personal instructor, guiding us through the intricate paths of talmudic logic and thought.

A Beginner's Guide to the Steinsaltz Talmud

Jason Aronson, Inc.

As with the first two volumes in this series, The Talmud for Beginners, Volume 3: Living in a Non-Jewish World, introduces the beginner to an important book of the Talmud; in this case, Avodah Zarah, translated as "Strange Worship." The theme, generally speaking, is Jewish relations with non-Jews.

The Talmud for Beginners: Living in a Non-Jewish World (Volume 3)

Rabbi Abrams writes: "When I teach Torah classes to my congregants, sometimes they become very uncomfortable with what they read in the Tanach. Jacob tricks his father. Moses kills a man. David commits adultery. They struggle to come to grips with the difficult passages in the text. They also work on finding meaning in worship services, even though they don't know Hebrew. They strive to define themselves proudly as Jews in a non-Jewish world. They worry about assimilation. And I'm pretty sure that they think their problems are modern ones. Blessedly, the rabbis of the Talmud struggled with these questions, too, and they came up with some terrific answers. "In this introduction to the tractate Megillah of the Babylonian Talmud, we will learn how the rabbis viewed the Torah, and how they teach us to relate to it. They don't shy away from the hard-to-deal with passages, but show us how to meet them head on without sacrificing respect for them. They show us how to make the text our own and how to honor it in our everyday lives. These are ancient answers to modern questions.

Talmud for Beginners: Text, Vol. 2

The Talmud is filled with knowledge, inspiration, and insights that enrich all facets of Jewish life. Yet many are intimidated by the thought of studying its text, and their hesitancy prevents them from experiencing the wisdom of its words. In this new volume, Rabbi Judith Abrams takes readers with her on a journey through one volume of the Talmud, offering reassuring guidance and making it meaningful and accessible to all. The Talmud for BeginnersDVolume 1: Prayer is the first book in a series by Rabbi Abrams. For lay readers who are unfamiliar with Talmud, this work serves as an introduction to talmudic thought. For those who are familiar with talmudic methodology, this volume will serve as a convenient overview of one book of the Talmud, Berachot (literally, 'blessings').

The Talmud for Beginners: Prayer (Volume 1)

The Talmud for beginners

J. Aronson

Describes Selichot, the preparatory service for the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Includes prayers.

Selichot--A Family Service

Kar-Ben Pub

Presents information about the harvest festival, Sukkot, with prayers, readings, and songs

Sukkot: A Family Seder

Children's Books

Holidays & Celebrations

Presents a family service for Simchat Torah, the holiday marking the end of the reading of the Torah and beginning it again. Some prayers are in both Hebrew and English.

Simchat Torah: A Family Celebration With Consecration Service (English and Hebrew Edition)

Kahn, Katherine Janus

Religions

Judaism and Disability: Portrayals in Ancient Texts from the Tanach through the Bavli

Judaism and Disability delves into all of the ancient texts and their explications, including the Tanach, the Hebrew acronym for the Jewish Bible, the Mishnah, considered the foundation of rabbinic literature, and the Bavli, the Babylonian Talmud. Instead of imposing a contemporary consciousness upon these archaic works, this carefully researched book presents their viewpoints as written, in an effort to understand why they expressed the sensibilities that they did.

History

World

Gallaudet University Press

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Books by Abrams, Judith Z.