If you have found the study of Talmud daunting, Swimming in the Sea of Talmud is a perfect jumping off point for this central body of rabbinic literature; it helps apply the Talmud's lessons to the issues and conflicts of modern life, including business ethics, sexuality, family dynamics, and their connection to a satisfying and meaningful life.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Nice bite sized studies of Talmudic text:
Rabbis Katz and Schwartz have wrtten a lucid introduction to talmudic study. Talmud is voluminous, encompassing many tractates divided into six orders of study. If you were to read a page a day (front and back of each) it would take seven and a half years to comlpete the task. Indeed, many people do just that in an nexercise known as "daf yomi" which basically means the front and back of a page very day. The first few pages of this book are an introduction, explaining what Talmud is and the method of study.... more info
A Wonderful Introduction to a Central Text of Judaism:
Along with the Jewish Bible (the Tanach), the Talmud is central text of Judaism. Consisting of two components, Mishnah (oral law) and Gemarrah (Rabbinical discussion of the Mishnah), the voluminous words of the great Rabbinic Sages expound on every conceivable subject and their rulings make up the whole of modern Jewish practice and belief. It is the Talmud that turned the ancient worship of the God of Abraham by the nation of Israel into the religion of Judaism. Although learned Jews spend their lives... more info
A remarkable achievement...When will have have Vol. 2?:
I think that most readers who would read this review already know what the Talmud is, so I hope I am right in skipping over that explanation. Having studied some Talmud myself, it is a little like going to law school, but not having the advantage of being able to check things out with your classmates. Here, the authors are your classmates...and teachers. They have selected excerpts from various tractates and given the reader a taste of the legalistic reasoning one finds throughout, but then they take it one... more info
Great book, easy read:
While I always viewed the Talmud as being an ancient, archaic document, the authors really bring the text alive and apply it to every-day life. I was really eased into Talmud and hte book served as the perfect stepping stone to futher studying--something I am pursuing rigorously. Thanks Katz and Schwartz!
