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| The Pentateuch and Haftorahs: Hebrew Text English Translation and Commentary | 
 enlarge | Creator: J. H. Hertz
Publisher: The Soncino Press
Category: Book
List Price: $36.00
Buy New: $9.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (7 reviews)
Sales Rank: 105546
Languages: Hebrew (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published), Hebrew (Published)
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 2
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1067
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.5
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.6 x 1.5
ISBN: 0900689218
Dewey Decimal Number: 296
EAN: 9780900689215
ASIN: 0900689218
Publication Date: January 1, 1960
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Youve used it for years in synagoguenow take your own copy home. Popularly known as the Hertz Chumash, this classic Hebrew-English edition of the Five Books of Moses, with corresponding Haftorahs, is used in synagogues and classrooms throughout the English-speaking world. In this compact volume, the late Chief Rabbi of England, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Hertz, provides readers with a lucid exposition of the text and the spiritual and ethical teachings of the Torah, culled from a wide range of scholarly literature. It contains the full Hebrew text, line-by-line English translation, and the classic Hertz commentary. Complete with all the Haftorahs for holidays and special Sabbaths.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 A Book that is Useful for Devout Jews, Christians, and Anyone with a Serious Interest in Biblical Literature January 19, 2008
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
J. H. Hertz's edition of THE PENTATEUCH (The Torah) and HAFTORAHS is a solid work of scholarship that demonstrates considerable work and shows clarity. This book is obviously useful for devout Jewish people, but Christians (Catholic and Protestant) plus those who have no religious affiliation but have an interest in biblical history and literature will enjoy this book. A knowledge of Hebrew is useful, but the book is so well done that it is not absolutely necessary.
Rabbi Hertz, the editor of this book, did not accept the Documentary Hypothesis interpretation of the Torah and Hebrew Bible or what is known as the TANAKH. For devout Christians, this is also know as the Old Testament. As this reviewer stated elsewhere, he does accept the Documentary Hypothesis or at least some form of it. In spite of these differences, this reviewer still considers Rabbi Hertz's book as scholarly, detailed and exceptionally well written regardless of differences of opinion.
Most Torah commentaries are written in Hebrew with English translations for those who may not have a command of the Hebrew language. Rabbi Hertz has the English translation in a parallel colume which makes reading and cross reference easier which is a convenient aid. Rabbi Hertz has excellent notes at the bottom of the pages to provide explanations of the text which is of considerable help in interpreting the Hebrew text and English translations. Rabbi Hertz was honest in that if he were not exactly sure of the original Hebrew, he admitted this and provided alternative explanations.
The Torah sections of this commentary have the Haftorah sections interspaced with the books of the Torah (Genesis,Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The Haftorahs were readings from the Prophets which the rabbis interpreted as reflecting the ideas of the Torah. The Haftorahs are accurately placed where they belong for the Sabbath Readings including holidays and Yom Kippur. For those who attend or want to attend a synagogue, this book is a useful guide to following the readings that the rabbis or assistants use.
Another interesting quality of this book consists consists in the notes at the end of each book of the Torah. Those who are interested in biblical history would find these notes interesting, useful, and informative. These notes provide introductory historical background to the text and Jewish History. For example, Rabbi Hertz had an interesting note of persecution of Jews in Eastern Europe which helps explain Jewish devotion, tenacity, and courage which readers would find interesing very thoughtful.
Rabbi Hertz showed intellectual and historical honesty in the last sections of the book. He quite fairly included non-Jewish sources and books that would be useful to readers. Obviously, Rabbi Hertz cited Jewish sources which he divided as Ancient Versions and Commentators, Modern Versions in English, and Mondern Commentators, Tralslators, and Writers on Bible Subjects-Jewish. He further included non-Jewish sources in a section titled Modern Commentators, Translators, and Writers on Bible Subjects-Non-Jewish. Such honesty and fairness impressed this reviewer.
Rabbi Hertz provided a Chronological Table of historical events in Ancient Biblcal History. Readers can follow this table by referring to sources mentioned above to enhance their knowledge of the Hebrew Bible (The Tanakh)as well as learning more history. The index at the of the book is suprisingly good. Readers can easily locate sections of the book and the Torah with this index.
While Rabbi Hertz was a traditional Jew and rabbi, he was not a biblical literalist. For example, he explains the Creation Story very effectively and intelligently without insulting those who interpret the Creation Story literally. He patiently explained that the original Hebrew portrayed these events as poetry and as allegories rather than as strict literal interpreations. One must realize that the original Tanakh or Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic and not English.
THE PENTATEUCH AND THE HAFTORAHS is highly recommended to serious readers and students of the Bible and biblical history. One reviewer mentioned the Plaut TORAH COMMENTARY which this reviewer has and reviewed elsewhere. Both of these commentaries are worth the price and make for thoughtful reading. One's religious affiliation and belief should not preclude anyone from examing this commentary as well as the Plaut volume.
 Review of Hertz's Commentary July 19, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A good resource addition to use for the reading cycle. I like the way each Haftorah reading follows immediately after the Torah section.
A great help and teacher for as long as I can remember October 29, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The Hertz Chumash has been with me for as long as I can remember. Shaareh Tefillah Shul in Troy, New York had the Hertz Chumash and its translation of the Chumash, and its great commentary taught me then as it still teaches me now. I every week read the Parsha both in Hebrew and English from it.
The Hertz commentary is a wise and generous one. It is filled with ' Yirat Shemayim' The Awe of G-d, and yet at the same time open to wise words from non- Jewish sources. It exalts and inspires . And its introductions to each book of the Torah are also of great help .It is still a great commentary to be learned from though it should of course be supplemented with others which go into greater detail in many areas.
The Best Condensed Torah Commentary December 5, 2001
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
The distilled wisdom of the ages in about 1000 pages - no one could do it better. I have read through this volume every year for several years and never cease to discover new insights. Recommended it for both Jewish and Christian students of the holy scriptures.
Second Best? November 8, 2001
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
Is this the second best rendition, in Hebrew of the Torah with a side-by-side English translation, and provided with commentary, or is it just a matter of taste? According to my taste, the best version, and most modern, is "The Torah" by W. Gunther Plaut. You may read my review of that version, which I recommend when considering the purchase of this book.For the record, the Pentateuch is another name for the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, the five books of Moses. This book is most commonly used in the sanctuary of the Conservative synagogue, as compared to the Plaut volume, which serves the same purpose in the Reform synagogue. I have both volumes side-by-side on an honored place in my living room. I recommend both. However, to my taste, Plaut is 'first among equals.' Postscript: Don't be fooled by the title; Plaut includes the Haftorahs similarly to Hertz.
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