On Fri, 4 Jan 2002 14:38:56 EST [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > In a message dated 1/3/02 3:02:42 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > writes: > <<How many different translations are there? Given that the Bible > comes in > umpteen different translations, the Talmud has the same problem. > Which > translation would be the best one? >>
> A side note on this particular comment: Generally, Talmudic > *translation* > does not vary from copy to copy. Hebrew is not that complicated a > language, > and word meanings don't vary tremendously the way they might in > English. > However, Talmudic *interpretation* does vary. The stories told > within the > Talmud are usuallly interpreted as having meanings within meanings. > That's is why I suggest first picking up a copy and reading it > without > additional explanations. You can easily read the straight > translation and > understand it without reading the 'Cliff's Notes' first. ;) > Jon - The problem with reading the Talmud is that it's very dense. It's written in a shorthand style that assumes the reader knows things about the subject being discussed - it'll sometimes quote part of a biblical verse, expecting the reader to fill in the end of the verse, which is where the important detail is. That's why all Talmudic translation has to be interpretation; or a better word might be "expansion" - it has to take short-hand style, dense, formulaic legal material and make it understandable in another language. -Stephen (Steg) PS- i'm new here. hi! nice to meet you all! ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
