My suggestion is to first divide your list into specific areas. Mishnah, Talmud, Halachah (Codes), Midrash. It is also important to evaluate the level of the material and the language. There are many translations of primary sources in translation. Some go beyond the translation and actually serve a larger resource. For example, the Artscroll Mishnah series has references to other materials such as Shulchan Aruch and Mishnah Torah. It has a clear translation as well. If you had a choice between that edition and the Blackman edition, I would suggest the Artscroll edition. Unfortunately the Artscroll edition is incomplete so I would also buy the Blackman. Talmuds should include the Schottenstein edition which is also an excellent resource and teaching tool. As far as the Soncino edition of the Talmud, if you do buy it, purchase the all English edition and use it for reference. The translation is no always easy to understand. The Hebrew Steinsaltz Talmud is very good because it is colonized and indexed I would suggest you buy that as well. It would also be useful to invest in a traditional Shas and Mishnah. In the area of Halacha I would suggest an edition of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in both Hebrew and English. It is also important to purchase a copy of the Mishnah Torah by Maimonides in both Hebrew and English Hebrew could be the Rambam le-Am series with a traditional edition as well as the translation from Moznaim press. Another suggestion would be the Feldheim translation of the Mishnah Berurah which is now complete.
It is really hard to know what to suggest beyond these ideas because we do not know the curriculum and its goals. For example is Midrash a part of the curriculum. I would suggest the Soncino translation of the Midrash. As far as the Soncino edition of the Talmud, if you do buy it purchase the all English edition and use it for reference. The translation is no always easy to understand. The Hebrew Steinsaltz Talmud is very good because it is vocalized and indexed I would suggest you buy that as well. There are many vendors who have web sites with availability of books and prices. Eichlers and Israel book Shop are just two. There is a site with some less expensive prices, <http://www.bargainjudaica.com/>www.bargainjudaica.com. I hope this is helpful. Kesivah and Chasimah Tovah to all AJL members Eliezer M. Wise Director of Library Services Tuttleman Library of Gratz College 215-635-7300 extension 159 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
