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W. Gunther Plaut
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The Torah: A Modern Commentary, Revised Edition Hardcover – February 28, 2005

by W. Gunther Plaut (Author), David E. S. Stein (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 144 ratings
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Nearly twenty-five years after the groundbreaking publication of the first-ever English language liberal Torah commentary, we present The Torah: A Modern Commentary, Revised Edition. This volume features updated commentary and translations, including a gender-sensitive version of the JPS translation, with largely gender-neutral God language and a completely fresh translation of Genesis and of the haftarot by the late Rabbi Chaim Stern. In addition, the volume is reorganized by parashah and includes a helpful index and aliyot markers, improving upon the 1981 original. As Rabbi David Ellenson, President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, states, "This book provide a dazzling compendium of sources both classical and modern, and a variety of voices that will enhance worship and study of everyone."
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  1. Print length
    1604 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Union for Reform Judaism
  4. Publication date
    February 28, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    7.75 x 1.75 x 10 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0807408832
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0807408834
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union for Reform Judaism; Revised edition (February 28, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 1604 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0807408832
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0807408834
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.75 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.75 x 1.75 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 144 ratings

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W. Gunther Plaut

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4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
144 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

cookiecountess
5.0 out of 5 stars great edition
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2015
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I have tried to start reading the Torah multiple times. And then I get bored. Or I don't understand what's going on. Or the comments are very outdated. I now look forward to my daily Torah study. What I like the most about this edition is the commentary. The essays are wonderful and reinforce what you have just read. You get commentary by scholars and also are presented with a multitude of different views, particularly on something controversial. The gleanings are really special. There, you get presented with thoughts commenting either on the Torah section you have just read or about topics covered in that section. You will read poetry, philosophy, scholars, people from different faiths, etc. One I go through all the wonderful content for that section, I feel like I have a firm grasp on it. I have shared some of the gleanings with my friends and they have been so surprised that these comments have come from a Torah and not some sociology book. As a scholar and a progressive, it has been an amazing experience to see what Plaut put together. I am very impressed.
7 people found this helpful
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Roy547
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Torah commentary
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2010
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This is a very detailed Torah commentary. Hard to beat the Amazon price on such a scholarly work. While Christians mostly use the King James version, Jews can and do use a variety of translations. This book is heavily footnoted. Verses whose meaning is unclear are pointed out. Multiple meanings are documented. There are extensive amplifications of and commentary on each Torah portion. This volume also contains the associated haftorah verses for each Torah portion.
One thing not appreciated by those who enjoin "The bible says..." is that a great many Hebrew words were used only once in the entire Tanach ("old testament"). They can have multiple meanings and there is no context to tell which was meant.
Although this commentary is intended for Reform Jews, I feel Christians would find it to be highly educational.
8 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, arrived practically new!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2023
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This was amazing! I couldn't believe how perfect the condition of this book is! It's like new!!! I adore this commentary, highly recommend, especially from this seller!
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Rabbi Bill Kurry
4.0 out of 5 stars You need to have this Chumash
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2013
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This is the Chumash (Jewish Bible 5 Books of Moses)you will find in every Reform synagogue in America. It is a great work of scholarship and is now perhaps a little dated. This current revised addition is more user friendly than the first edition. I do Jewish conversions and use this text with my students. I agree with some critics who find the commentary overly weighted with scientific and historical perspective at the cost of spiritual insights. Nevertheless, I truly believe it's an essential tool for Torah study. Along with the Orthodox Stone Chumash and the Conservative Etz Chayim, it needs to be on your shelf. My friend an Orthodox Rabbi has never read this commentary. I constantly surprise him with insights and challenging commentary gleaned from this work that is obviously considered seditious to the Orthodox Rabbinate.
6 people found this helpful
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The Doctor
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tool for any Torah student
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2021
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This Torah commentary edition provides plenty of scholarly exegesis to accompany the actual Torah text. This is an excellent learning tool.
One person found this helpful
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Bandikoot
5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well done
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2014
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This is a very informative,well put together Torah and com. I like the use of the title Eternal, that is expansive. I'm also using the Etz Hayim, another winner. This publication fits right into my readings that are a large part of my life, plus all the essays, notes and prayers. My ongoing spiritual journey is more than complemented by this work. Thankyou, Children of Israel, for your existence!
One person found this helpful
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PanamaPatti
5.0 out of 5 stars Read what you have been missing
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2015
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So much is lost in the translation of the Torah from Hebrew to English. Some of this is regained in the commentary. The old testament in Christian bibles lacks clarity and loses the meaning of the message contained in the scriptures. This is due to the translators. It is more than obvious that the translators of the Old Testament were not righteous men and focused on their own agenda. The information in Genesis alone will give you an entirely new outlook and make you wish you could read, write and speak Hebrew.
One person found this helpful
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Hapless Student
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great resource it is very concise
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2014
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This is a great resource it is very concise, and is a plain joy to read. The book is arranged in the "left to right" method so it is easy to grasp from the English speaking perspective. But this does not deter from the great commentary that it provides.
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Top reviews from other countries

Leonid Finis
5.0 out of 5 stars Intellectually consistent commentary
Reviewed in Canada on March 20, 2014
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After glossing over several more traditional commentaries on Pentateuch, i could not make peace with obviously flawed reasoning and conclusions. I realize that this is part of much bigger philosophico-theological debate, but non the less, i find this book to be more honest and logically consistent than many others. It's reasoning is partly based on scientific and critical approach to Biblical studies, while at the same time maintaining respect and dignity of the Torah. To put it in another way - this book, in my opinion, is the most an intellectually honest person can accept about the Bible. For example, it frequently mentions the Documentary Hypothesis, but does not elevate it to the status of ultimate truth.

Each of the 5 books has excellent introduction and analysis from historical, literary and theological perspectives. Text of the verses is well annotated and is followed by very interesting analysis of the entire chapter.

I would highlty recommend this book to anybody interested in better intellectual understanding of Pentateuch but without reducing it to minimalistic and anti-religious dogma.
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Justanopinion
5.0 out of 5 stars A nice work
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2013
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The Plaut commentary is a nice work. Of course, I also think it is the best to use it together with Artscroll's Chumash - Plaut can be used for historical data and Artscroll for rabbinic insights. I think the purpose of their use is different, since their basic thinking is different, and it is fine like that.

Even though I must emphasize on certain questions I disagree with the authors of the commentary, I felt that its text was somewhat more thorough if you have questions and want to receive background knowledge than Artscroll. The editors put the important citations to the end of the chapters, and as a result they were able to use more footnotes and comment more problematic issues. Moreover, the "Torah" also contains haftaras, and contrary to Artscroll, the haftaras also contain commentaries - in fact, it is a Chumash and not only a simple Torah commentary.

I do not really have problems with the introductory part: they are reform and they wanted to emphasize their fundamental approach - for me this is OK, even though I do not think the difference between their approach and the traditional orthodox approach is as different as they and the orthodoxes think, and I agree this is a useless direction. However, they wanted to show historical analysis has a place in a Torah commentary, and I appreciate this thinking.

What I found really nice is that after every chapter you find a small article about the sidrah, which covers the most important issues. These articles are different in quality, but most of them give you nice more information regarding the text and they are quite long to be thorough enough.

I must mention I do not know the JPS Tanakh, but am really satisfied with this one as well - it is a high quality work. Of course, I can imagine, it should be a second commentary, because it may be more proper to start with a more traditionalist one first, but this is only my opinion, you do not go wrong if you buy it...
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Was a beautiful gift
Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2016
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Was a beautiful gift
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Janos Gal
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read Torah - recommend it.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2017
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Good quality book and easy descriptions without the archaic language.
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N. Stanley
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Torah!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2017
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Perfect, a great copy of a superb commentary
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