Koren Talmud Bavli, Vol.3: Tractate Shabbat, Part 2 (English and Hebrew Edition) Hardcover – November 1, 2012

Vo. 3 continues with a visually and textually exciting exposition of the Talmud. For me, not a Torah or Talmud scholar, but just a layperson with some time on my hands to study a Daf or two every day or so, I am becoming familiar with the reasons for many traditions followed today. Interesting as well are the insights into how the Sages and their followers lived, as the subjects in this volume bounce around, for example, from how different tradesman performed their work (necessary to know so to delineate between tasks that could and could not be performed on Shabbat), to hygiene, and the freedom some of the Sages felt to opine (often inaccurately) on medicines and cures. Throughout, you can see the Sages grappling and struggling to define what evolved into the ethos and virtue we now associate with the best the Abrahamic culture has to offer. Reading this stuff is sometimes a slog, but all in all, it is rewarding. I hope more do so, so it does not become solely the property of fanatics: it belongs to the Jews and the world.

Unfortunately, the inexcusable mistakes I noted in my reviews of volumes one and two of the new Steinsaltz edition of the Babylonian Talmud continue in volume three. On Shabbat 83b, Steinsaltz translates: "And according to the Rabbis, . . . [t]he juxtaposition [of idolatry] to a menstruating woman establishes that like a menstruating woman, it has the capacity to transmit impurity through limbs." [Top of page 14.] Not only does this contradict the translation of the same passage in the Soncino edition ("Now, according to the Rabbis, in respect of what law is it [an idol] likened to . . . to a niddah [a menstruating woman]? -- that it is not [a source of contamination] through its [separate] limbs"), but it also contradict the translation of an earlier passage in the Steinsaltz edition itself that, as it likewise reflects the view of "the Rabbis" rather than Rabbi Akiva, should be identical("And according to the Rabbis, with regard to what halakha was idolatry juxtaposed to a menstruating woman? The Gemara answers: Just as a menstruating woman does not transmit impurity through her limbs, so too, idolatry does not transmit impurity though its limbs." [Shabbat 82b, top of p;. 10]). Soncino is clearly right, and Steinsaltz is clearly wrong regarding the first passage, which reads "de'einah la'evarin lammet" in the original. Not to beat a dead horse, but these kinds of mistakes are simply inexcusable. Stumbling across them and not being able to correct them will close the Talmud for many novice readers, rather than opening it for them, as any translation of this fundamental work of Judaism should.

This is a wonderful addition to your Jewish library. I love the way Mr. Cohn writes the stories in a way that every reader can understand. They would be great to use in a classroom as well. Highly recommend!

The Talmud Bavli, Vol. 3, is an important learning tool for those wanting to master the Talmud. Excellent translation and layout. Can be helpful to both the scholar and general interested reader.

This book is very nice and the set up inside is done in a very easy way to understand the subject. Translation comes in very handy

Combines the traditional text with the brilliant work by Rabbi Steinzaltz. Best Talmud I have seen . Puts Art Scroll to shame

the editors did a great job of making it readable and understandable. the translation is paragraph by paragraph, which i find optimal.

excellent

Good service, beautiful edition.

Excellent and super fast delivery

My background: I was not raised in a religious family. Currently in my 30s Judaism is the field of interest for me.Review:The Talmud is a book of life.The concepts delivered in the book and the process of studying them can improve one's life in many aspects.I was not exposed to any other Talmud edition rather than Koren. Since I cannot compare, I will point out the aspects which I liked most in the edition:-The edition is beautiful, the illustrations make the edition not dry and also can vastly improve understanding of abstract concepts and ancient items.- The English used in the book is modern and clear.- The layout of the text, position of comments, notes and halacha rulling is very well though out. The edition is very convenient to study.There is also one small deficit: the paint on the book cover is not very durable. So my suggestion is to use book protector. The print of November 2019 has a slightly different cover, so perhaps the deficit is not present in the new print, which is available as a complete set.P.S. Currently I did not finished the volume completely. I will update my review once I finish.

Sono ottimi. Il libro e' diviso a metà una parte contiene la traduzione del trattato in Inglese (un Inglese chiaro e semplice) con i commenti e la descrizione delle Halachot quando sono presenti e una breve introduzione dei personaggi che discutono, la prima volta che compaiono.L'altra meta del libro e' il trattato nella classica pagina del Talmud.Inoltre oltre che essere belli dentro lo sono fuori e fanno una bella figura nella libreria.Mi piacerebbe avere ancora più commenti e la copertina removibile seppur molto bella e' un po fragile quindi ho tolto una stella.