Best talmud books according to redditors

I'm sure it's not the most expensive document in history. But a full set iss expensive because it's large. For example this set that costs $2,400 comes in 73 volumes. That's only $33 per volume, so actually kinda cheap. You could buy individual volumes but seeing as you don't actually know what you're looking for that wouldn't make sense either.

You should read the link I sent you, or the recommended books on the other link I sent you.

>Did you mean for posterity's sake??

I made it clear I wasn't trying to insult you. In fact this mistake came out only because I was doing that.

As far as why OP or anyone else in their position shouldn't "get an English Talmud" is unrelated to how intelligent they may or may not be, or more specifically their "command of English."

Non-Jews studying the Talmud is a rather serious prohibition. Furthermore there are problems with studying a nuanced work in a translated version. Lastly the Talmud isn't the sort of work that the uninitiated should study on their own. Especially not to "lookup the rules." The Shulchan Aruch would have been a much better suggestion for a source to "lookup the rules." Or even better, something along the lines of Shaarei Halachah.

>>>Also if you can get an English Talmud

What do you mean by a "Talmud?" You seem to imply an entire set of Shas. The Complete Artscroll English Talmud is currently selling on Amazon for $2,503.84. Assuming the sheer cost isn't a barrier to entry, it is a 73 set volume, so space might be. Kind of a silly suggestion for someone who just wants to determine their status, no? Or maybe you could guide them to the specific tractates that contain discussion of status. Do you which ones they are?

>If her command of English is like yours, you're probably right.

How do you know OP is female? There's nothing to indicate their gender. When gender is unknown there's a third person possessive pronoun we use, and it's not "her." "Did you mean" their??

Furthermore it's a bit rich to lash out at me for a spelling mistake when nearly everything you've submitted to this thread has been wrong. See all of the downvotes. Also see that the majority of comments in this thread are telling you why you're wrong.

To quote Pergamon111:
>Everything you are posting is wrong.... why?

Temurah 16a:

שלשת אלפים הלכות נשתכחו בימי אבלו של משה אמרו לו ליהושע שאל א"ל (דברים ל) לא בשמים היא אמרו לו לשמואל שאל אמר להם אלה המצות שאין הנביא רשאי לחדש דבר מעתה

Three thousand halakhoth were forgotten during the period of mourning for Moses’. They said to Joshua: ‘Ask’; he replied: It is not in heaven. They [the Israelites] said to Samuel: ‘Ask’; he replied: [Scripture says:] These are the commandments, implying [that since the promulgation of these commandments] no prophet has now the right to introduce anything new.

Whether we are to take this aggadata literally or not, the message is that while the Oral Torah does definitely communicate content, it more importantly communicates a system. Yes, the Talmud records debates over unsettled issues and eventually the law is decided in accordance with one side. This is all in accordance with the system of Oral Torah transmitted at Sinai. We don't look directly to heaven for a halakhic decision, we don't look to a Prophet who may not issue new law - rather we look to the system of Oral Torah. If you would like to have a firmer grasp of the different elements of the Oral Law, I suggest studying Maimonides introduction to his commentary on the Mishnah. You can find it available in Hebrew here, or purchase a translation.

When you say you purchased the Talmud, you mean the whole Talmud? Like this one?

Read The Dynamics of Dispute: The Makings of Machlokess in Talmudic Times which answers your questions at length.

https://www.artscroll.com/Categories/PBK.html

https://www.artscroll.com/Categories/BL1.html

You should know that we have an extensive Oral Torah that will not be covered by those two books. A good start might be "Jewish Literacy" and "Maimonides' introduction to the Talmud"

https://www.amazon.com/Hamafteach-Complete-Talmud-Daniel-Retter/dp/9653013602

Hmm... It’s almost as though...

I strongly advise that you don't do Daf Yomi. You should at least develop proficiency in gemora first, and before that you should at least become proficient in mishna. You can't really work through a gemora (and remember what you've learned) if you're covering a daf a day. It's definitely not a starting point. (Also, I would advise buying one volume at a time, as needed, rather than the whole set. But if you can afford the whole set, more power to you. It's a good thing to own).

I highly recommend a thorough study of Pirkei Avot as a starting point.

I haven't learned it myself, but Ein Yaakov is a renowned compilation of aggadata with commentary. I love the Maharal's derech in learning Aggadata, but it's not a place to start.

For an easy and thorough grounding in some fundamental concepts, I don't think the Nineteen Letters can be beaten (I several editions on Amazon, but I'm not sure who translated them. The only translations I know of are one from 1899 and this one. This has notes which are not necessary to understand it, but are valuable both to understanding the text and in themselves).

Advice for books is really, first and foremost, to learn something that draws you and speaks to you, and secondly something that you will be able to maintain. If you have ideas about this and want specific suggestions, I would love to help, but I don't believe that there are any essentials that everyone must learn. It has to be suitable for your personal style.

Besides for a chavrusa, I would also highly recommend a shiur and a fixed schedule (it doesn't have to be a big schedule — even 15 minutes once a week or five minutes a day — but obviously the more you can manage, the better (within reason, of course)).

I don't know how to learn Hebrew. What Hebrew I do know, I learned mostly from learning texts with a dictionary and/or chavrusa

Some general advice: I'm certainly not discouraging you, but it's important to pace yourself. For sustainable and lasting spiritual growth, you should focus on one small step at a time, and not focusing too much on the end goal (eg "to become a baal teshuva"). If you want to learn, or if some other mitzvah appeals to you, by all means take that on, and then when it's comfortable, take another... but don't worry about where it will lead you. Similarly in learning, rather commit to a little less than you're sure you can handle and build incrementally on that than risk biting off more than you can chew. I don't mean to discourage you at all, and I wish you the greatest success in your learning :)

I would also suggest Rabbi Steinsaltz's "Talmudic Images". Much like his "Biblical Images" he gives biographical sketches of the sages from the Mishnah. Here is the description from Amazon's page about the book:

>The Talmud is a unique repository of debate among generations of Jewish sages. While we may be familiar with the names Hillel, Shammai, Ben Zakkai and other Talmudic sages, and we may understand the schools of thought they represent, we are less likely to know much about their individual personalities, their inner lives, the historical contexts in which they lived. Talmudic Images presents intimate portraits of thirteen, key Talmudic sages. It offers glimpses into their very human lives, enabling us to better understand and more fully appreciate their remarkable contributions to the body of Jewish wisdom. Includes a glossary, annotated bibliography and timeline.

Find a partner and do an hour or two a week. There is also a Talmud common words dictionary on amazon Aiding Talmud Study https://www.amazon.com/dp/0873064283/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sgLMybSE5PFDZ

> Russian Jew raised secular want to learn about my people but not be
> indoctrinated.

This pretty much won’t happen no matter what you read. Judaism has been a non-proselytising religion for getting on to 2,000 years now.

Among the Orthodox, the standing rule is to turn those looking to convert away at least three times before you even begin to start talking about the process and whether it’s something they should undertake.

Among the Conservative and Reform and Reconstructionist, things aren’t quite so daunting, but the basic underlying theology — that one’s relationship with divinity (assuming there is one: Reconstructionists are atheists, for example) is not dependent in any fashion on whether you are an MoT or not — still informs the process. Conversion is, of course, possible, but it’s not considered necessary in any sense.

Even in Judaism’s ancient sort-of-proselytising days it was mostly a ‘give it a try, you might like it’ kind of sales pitch.

> Book recommendations?

Oi, where to start?

Jews aren’t called ‘the people of the book’ for nothing. We’ve been writing everything down for thousands of years. So there’s a lot of history to explore and there are literally thousands of histories out there to read.

The list below is not in a particular order. And it is idiosyncratically chosen. It is, quite literally, a list of what I can see on my shelves from where I’m currently working that immediately makes me think ‘oh, yeah, that’s got something for the new reader’.

The story of the Jews: finding the words (1000 BCE – 1492 CE)
Simon Schama, 2014.

The story of the Jews: when words fail (1492 – present day)
Simon Schama, 2015.

The Talmud — a biography: banned, censored and burned. The book they couldn’t suppress
Harry Freedman, 2014.

Pirkei Avot (the sayings of the fathers): a modern commentary on Jewish ethics
Leonard Kravitz & Kerry Olitzky (eds), 1993.

The essential Kabbalah: the heart of Jewish mysticism
Daniel C Matt, 2009.

Engendering Judaism: an inclusive theology and ethics
Rachel Adler, 1999.

Hillel: if not now, when
Joseph Telushkin, 2010.

The new joys of Yiddish
Leo Rosten, 2003.

Other lists to meander through:

A best world Jewish history books list on GoodReads.

The top 100 Jewish books according to Rabbi Miriam Spitzer.

The 18 essential texts every Jew should read as put together for Huffington Post back in 2011 (and chosen by people who are relatively eclectic but entirely American).

Hope this is at least diverting, if not helpful.

https://www.amazon.com/Talmud-H-Polano/dp/1585092371/ref=asc_df_1585092371/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312009360408&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6831147432814359140&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9059629&hvtargid=pla-487669920927&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=60223809297&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312009360408&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6831147432814359140&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9059629&hvtargid=pla-487669920927

$22.08 Amazon English

In that respect it is one of many legal systems but it is the one which all current interpretation of Jewish law must be grounded in.

If you are curious, check out Adin Steinsalz's The Essential Talmud

Maimonides' Introduction to the Talmud
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1880582287/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1-kMAbSZ4RGZJ

This book outlines the rambam's legal method and definitions. It's basically why I consider myself a rambamist.

Thanks. I just found this:
https://www.amazon.com/BABYLONIAN-TALMUD-ALL-VOLUMES-ILLUSTRATED-ebook/dp/B01GY0FCGQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480292460&sr=1-2&keywords=the+talmud

I went to hear a Christian convert out of Islam who is a scholar of both the Bible and the Q'uran, that the Q'uran is not accurately translated into English in order to make it more palatable to the Westerner. I wonder if this same problem exists in the Talmud?

Do you have a particular Talmud that you recommend?

>? What happens?

Marriage, in my opinion, requires one testosterone-dominant individual (to protect the family) and one estrogen-dominant individual (to nurture the children).

I am a heterosexual male. By that I mean, if I were given a random choice to have sexual intercourse with an individual with a vagina, or an individual with a penis, then I will choose the individual with a vagina 100% of the time.

I am willing to be tested on this. That was a joke. Never mind.

Anyway, testosterone-dominant individuals tend to be more aggressive than estrogen-dominant ones. That is why the vast majority of psychopaths are male.

If I were a male heterosexual psychopath and no one suspected that, then I would "come out" as gay, and find myself a male partner in crime to marry. I could also find a weak-minded female, as Jerry Sandusky did, but I think that that would be far more difficult. Females, at least in my experience, tend to be smarter about this stuff than males. That is because evolution has made females the experts at caring for children.

After the honeymoon I'd start adopting attractive female children. Can you guess why?

Gay marriage is a slippery slope. Homosexuality does not imply pedophilia but homosexuality gives the pedophiles a wonderful tool to sexually abuse orphans. I do not wish to give them that tool.

\> I do find it disgusting to be against homosexuality though.

Fair enough. I find it disgusting to give pedophiles tools to abuse orphans. I guess I care more about child welfare than those who are A-OK with gay marriage.

\> You are missing the point.

No, I want to do Thunderdome with Judaism and then with Islam. I am betting that Christianity will win. It obviously wins over Islam. I believe that it will win over Judaism, because this:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Schottenstein-Talmud-English-Volumes/dp/1578190673

Judaism is too damn hard to understand. I believe that that is probably because all of the rules are concrete.

Christianity boils down to a single word! It's an abstract word, and some humans appear to be unable to understand abstractions. Oh well.

I love the Jewish Study Bible too! To my knowledge, the only similar translation- and really the only modern translation whatsoever- of the Talmud is Artscroll. This is the go-to translation for Talmud scholars in yeshivas everywhere. Luckily it's a very good translation, crowdsourced from many Talmudic scholars all across the world.

I did manage to find a free translation online which uses the standardized page format.

Regarding Artscroll: only Orthodox scholars were involved, and no secular scholarship whatsoever. It's a thoroughly Orthodox translation instead of a "consensus". They're also a bit pricy for the full set.

But luckily you don't need the full set, because it's going to take you your whole life to read it!

Traditionally, the Talmud is not learned in order (probably because the beginning is extremely dull imo). A good starting point is Bava Kama "The First Gate", the beginning of which deals with the different types of animal damages. It's one of my favorite pieces of gemara, honestly. (It's also the page I linked to for the online translation.)

Last thing: you don't want to just read the Talmud, it's not that kind of book. Rabbi Dov Linzer gives a daily class on a single page, and he's been doing it for years. Read the page first, then listen to the class and follow along, then go back and read the page again.

TLDR:

1. free translation
   
2. Artscroll Bava Kama
   
3. Rabbi Dov Linzer
   
   EDIT: Forgot to mention, arrays start at 2. Page 2 is the first page of every book, because reasons. So that is the first video of the series :)

https://www.amazon.com/Bride-One-Night-Talmud-Tales/dp/0827612095

Yes and no, in my own way - I took a little break from Kabbalah after reading a number of different books about it, and and went on to a few other subjects. I sort of have this project in mind that is becoming massive and I'm trying to figure out how to tie everything together and deal with all the notes I have. I mean, I pretty much know how I'm going to do things, I just need to sit down and kick myself in the butt and get the writing done. But I want to tie in Kabbalah, as well as other Jewish ideas, with Christian mysticism, as well as historical Jesus scholarship and scientific ideas (a number of scientists have written books tying in Quantum Theory with mystical spirituality). And somehow despite my desire to focus on Judaism's connection to Christianity, as I've written the first couple sections of the series, some Buddhist ideas crept in.

But in any case, I have a copy of The Talmud (the one with Joseph Barclay listed as the editor, linked) and Tales and Maxims From the Midrash sitting on my kindle waiting to be read, and I also found a slightly used, very cheap copy of Everyman's Talmud: The Major Teachings of the Rabbinic Sages at the local McKay's (it's a place where people trade in media of their own and so you can buy other people's used stuff for really cheap).