Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts

Like the Iliad and the Aeneid, which emerged from Greek and roman culture, the bible and the many commentaries it gave rise to over a period spanning several thousand years are equally classics of literature. Yet for those not equipped with the requisite background or prior commitment to the religious teachings contained within these works, the wisdom, the joy and the profundity of these literary treasures have remained hidden. With chapters written by leading scholars specifically for this volume, Back to the sources is the first comprehensive guide to this literary legacy; the bible, the Talmud, the midrashic literature, the commentaries, the legal codes, the mystical texts of the Kabbalah and of Hasidism, the philosophical works and the prayer-book. It has been designed for the contemporary reader who wishes to knew what these books are and, most important, how to read them.