naphtalia's Full Review: The Pentateuch and Haftorahs: Hebrew Text English ...
If you grew up in a conservative synagogue, you've probably used Pentateuch and Haftorahs (a.k.a. The Hertz Chumash) for years. For those who don't know, a Chumash is book containing the Five Books of Moses. Jews traditionally read a section each week called a parashat along with a complimentary selection from the prophets called a haftorah.
This book is a classic Chumash which first appeared about 70 years ago. Compiled by Rabbi Joseph Hertz, the head rabbi of England at the time, it has a wonderful translation of the Five Books of Moses. The translation includes divisions both by chapters and parashat and it includes the corresponding Haftorahs.
It also includes some wonderful commentaries on each portion. These commentaries help to elucidate the text and to provide additional understanding about the spiritual and ethical teachings of the material. While Rabbi Hertz compiled it, it was collected from a wide range of scholarly and spiritual writings available at that time. The great rabbis of the Talmud are all represented in this tome. This is important as it is a tradition among Jews to read the commentaries of those who came before us as we read the scriptures. This book provides a good opportunity for that.
Hertz's approach is Orthodox. I like that, but find it sometimes limiting. While one need not be Orthodox to appreciate the viewpoints and scholarship, this can be off-putting to one with a modern conservative or reform viewpoint. Hertz is not anti-women; his views on women, however, were formed nearly 100 years ago. This was also a time of tentativeness about certain things that the ancients had done, and some of the commentaries seem almost apologetic when talking about ritual sacrifices.
Pentateuch and Haftorah opens from right to left, emphasizing that it is first a Hebrew book. It contains the complete Hebrew text with a line-by-line and side-by-side English translation. My first problem is with the translations. Translated in England over 70 years ago, the material is rich with "thee"s and "thou"s. This may add to the poetry of the language; it does not aid in comprehension. If I want to delve into the mysteries of G-d's word, it is not because of a lack of clarity in translation.
In addition to this basic material, the Hertz Chumash also contains all the Haftorahs and a listing of all readings for special days. It also includes a section on Trope (musical notation found in the Torah).
While this has been the standard since its first printing, most conservative synagogues are now using Etz Hayim. Most reform synagogues are moving to Plaut's The Torah which also contains the Haftorahs. I still like Pentateuch and Haftorah. It still has a place of honor on my bookcase and I use it often, though I admit that, for me, Etz Hayim is the better selection. It's commentaries include both the historic but also offer more modern insights.
If you are a Bible student - whether Jewish or Christian, I can recommend this book. It will offer insights and will keep you coming back for the deeper insights it offers.
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