Kehillat Israel

[lmrosen]

ESSENTIAL JEWISH TEXTS RECOMMENDED FOR THE KI LIBRARY
BY RABBI MICHAEL ZIMMERMAN
JULY 2007

Tanakh – It is important to have multiple copies of the complete Tanakh available for study purposes, especially during Shabbat afternoon adult ed sessions. The editions I most recommend are:
1 – JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh
2 – Etz Hayim
3 – The Jewish Study Bible

Mikraos Gedolos – A traditional compendium of commentaries on each of the books of the Tanakh by all the most esteemed Rabbinic and Medieval commentators. The various volumes in this series have been issued by Judaica Press.
Note: The library has "The Commentator's Bible: The Jps Miqra'ot Gedolot: Exodus"

Contemporary Torah Commentary – In addition to the JPS Torah Commentary and Etz Hayim (which we already own), it is important to own the complete commentary on Leviticus by Jacob Milgrom (Anchor Bible, 3 volumes – I have a personal copy of vol. 1), and the (regrettably) incomplete commentary on Deuteronomy by Moshe Weinfeld (Anchor Bible). For bnai mitzvah candidates, we should also own a complete 3-volume set of Harvey Fields’ A Torah Commentary for Our Times (URJ Press).

Liturgy – I have a personal copy of the new Or Hadash: A Commentary on Siddur Sim Shalom by Reuven Hammer (UCSJ). This also deserves to be in our library, and will be much appreciated by members of our Shabbat morning minyan.

Mishnah – Kehati edition (21 volumes) (Feldheim)

Babylonian Talmud – After much deliberation, I think the best overall solution for KI would be the Schottenstein Edition, published by Artscroll. It lists at $35 a volume for 73 volumes.

Jerusalem Talmud – Schottenstein Edition (Artscroll). This would not be top of the priority list; certainly the Babylonian Talmud is much higher priority. But someday it would be nice.

Mekhilta de-Rabbi Yishmael – Lauterbach edition (JPS)

Mekhilta de-Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (JPS)

Sifra on Leviticus – Neusner edition (Scholars Press or U. of South Florida)

Sifre to Numbers – Neusner edition (South Florida)

Sifre to Deuteronomy – Neusner edition (South Florida)

Midrash Rabbah:
Translations by Neusner (Scholars Press):
Genesis Rabbah (3 vols.)
Lamentations Rabbah
Esther Rabbah
Ruth Rabbah
Song of Songs Rabbah

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah (28 volumes) (Moznaim)

The Torah with Ramban’s (Nachmanides’) Commentary Translated, Annotated, and Elucidated (8 volumes) (Artscroll/Mesorah)

Mishnah Berurah (20 volumes) (Feldheim)