The Living Torah and Nach
Encyclopedia
The Living Torah is a 1981 translation of the Torah
by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
, published by Moznaim publishers. It was and remains a highly popular translation, and was reissued in a Hebrew-English version with haftarot for synagogue
use.
Rabbi Kaplan had the following goals for his translation, which were arguably absent from previous English translations:
Rabbi Kaplan's translation has been criticised in some circles for mis-translating the text. The dispute comes about because he consciously attempted not to present a straight translation of the text, but rather interspersed the translation with later rabbinic commentary and Jewish law.
(two volumes: "The Early Prophets" and "The Latter Prophets") and Ketuvim
("Sacred Writings" in one volume). These were prepared posthumously following Rabbi Kaplan's format by others including Yaakov Elman.
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
Aryeh Kaplan
Aryeh Moshe Eliyahu Kaplan was a noted American Orthodox rabbi and author known for his "intimate knowledge of both physics and kabbalah." He was lauded as an original thinker and prolific writer, from studies of the Torah, Talmud and mysticism to introductory pamphlets on Jewish beliefs and...
, published by Moznaim publishers. It was and remains a highly popular translation, and was reissued in a Hebrew-English version with haftarot for synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
use.
Rabbi Kaplan had the following goals for his translation, which were arguably absent from previous English translations:
- Make it clear and readable
- Keep it close to the basic meaning (peshat) of the text in many places, but in other places translated it to be in accord with post-biblical rabbinic commentary and Jewish codes of law.
- Keeping it faithful to OrthodoxOrthodox JudaismOrthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Jewish tradition - Provide useful notes, a table of contents, illustrations, and a comprehensive index.
Rabbi Kaplan's translation has been criticised in some circles for mis-translating the text. The dispute comes about because he consciously attempted not to present a straight translation of the text, but rather interspersed the translation with later rabbinic commentary and Jewish law.
The Living Nach
The Living Torah was later supplemented by The Living Nach on Nevi'imNevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
(two volumes: "The Early Prophets" and "The Latter Prophets") and Ketuvim
Ketuvim
Ketuvim or Kəṯûḇîm in actual Biblical Hebrew is the third and final section of the Tanak , after Torah and Nevi'im . In English translations of the Hebrew Bible, this section is usually entitled "Writings" or "Hagiographa"...
("Sacred Writings" in one volume). These were prepared posthumously following Rabbi Kaplan's format by others including Yaakov Elman.