Etz Hayim-A Torah Commentary

It was what I expected. The writing is a bit small but it has the same as any hardback book. I found the price a bit high though.

Useful and interesting

This is my favorite Torah with commentary. This is now my second copy for my family so we can study together.

Le format est parfait pour l'emporter partout. Les annotations et références sont très précieuses et l'approche pédagogique permet d'étudier la Torah avec soin. Félicitations aux concepteurs. Par contre il est en anglais. Il faut connaître cette langue pour en profiter.

Etz Hayim is my preferred chumash among those using the "new" JPS English translation. The layout is well-planned so that a lengthy gloss doesn't run past the page that contains the verse(s) being explained. The essays by respected biblical scholars are useful for my own education as well as for teaching b'nai mitzvot students. i also use the maps, glossary and index to teach my students how to navigate the chumash and their own Jewish history.As a Conservative Jew, i find the links to halachah especially enlightening and useful for understanding the thinking behind the practice. i also make heavy use of the essays linking the week's parashah to the haftarah.i have used W. Gunther Plaut's chumash in a classroom setting as well, but feel it lacks a sense of spirituality. Rabbi Plaut spends far too much time linking bible stories to contemporaneous myths and legends. Etz Hayim manages to keep its focus on Judaism - after all, this is the Torah, not the Epic of Gilgamesh. In fact, our synagogue, which is nominally Reform but serves everyone, was ready to adopt Plaut's chumash (to replace Hertz) until i demonstrated that the commentary in Etz Hayim works beautifully for our participatory Torah discussions on Shabbat mornings.As well, it's a beautiful book and the layout is easy to follow for even the most casual user. It makes a good chumash for small group study, regardless of denomination. And Etz Hayim is what i give to Christian and Muslim friends who want to learn more about the Jewish bible.

Everything about this was great! Very fast shipping, just as described and very well packaged. I was hesitant to order not from “Amazon” but had the opposite experience; now I feel like seeking out more of the smaller shops on here if I have the option. Glad I took a chance on Libby’s Books!

Etz Hayim is an excellent Torah resource. There are several reasons for this. A) English/Hebrew: The English and Hebrew transaltions are side by side and line by line. This makes it easier to do your own translating of the Hebrew text and compare it with the English translation provided. B) Two types of commentaries: Each page has two different types of commentaries underneath the Torah text. One commentary takes the text verse by verse. The other commentary gives a lot of background information and good exigetical information concerning the text. C) Essays: The essays are very good. Whether you agree with the points they are making or not, they give the reader much food for thought. Over all I have found the commentaries and essays very helpful and readable. D) The Torah is divided up into the parashot for each week. There are also special portions listed for holidays and special occaisions. After each weekly Torah portion htere is the Haftorah portion. This makes reading the entire parasha easy as it is all in one place.