The Babylonian Talmud: Original Text, Edited, Corrected, Formulated and Translated into English (19 vols.)

by Michael L. Rodkinson

Publisher:

The Talmud Society

, 1918

Overview

One of the earliest English translations of the Babylonian Talmud, the first volumes of Michael L. Rodkinson's New Edition of the Babylonian Talmud began appearing in 1896. And in 1918, after many revisions and editing, The Talmud Society published the second editions of Rodkinson's monumental work in one complete collection. The Babylonian Talmud: Original Text, Edited, Corrected, Formulated and Translated into English contains all nineteen volumes that Rodkinson completed—almost the entire Babylonian Talmud (contains all of the tractates in the Order Mo'ed (Festivals) and Nezikin (Damages), plus some additional material related to these Orders).

Key Features

• Insightful introductions to each edition
• Detailed introduction to each tractate
• Completely interactive with your entire library

Top Highlights

“The Mishna enumerates thirty-nine ‘Abhoth’ or principal acts of labor, the performance of any one of which constitutes a violation of the Sabbath. Every other kind of work becomes illegal only if it can be classified under one or any of these principal acts of labor.” (Volume 1, Pages xxi–xxii)

“Said R. Joseph to R. Joseph the son of Rabha: ‘Canst thou tell me which commandment thy father observed most punctually?’ The answer was: ‘The commandment of Tzitzith. For it happened one day that my father was ascending the stairway, and a thread of his Tzitzith becoming torn off, he would not leave his place until a new thread had been brought to him and the Tzitzith were mended.’” (Volume 2, Page 250)

“When it is remembered that before the canon of the Talmud was finished, in the sixth century,* it had been growing for more than six hundred years, and that afterward it existed in fragmentary manuscripts for eight centuries until the first printed edition appeared; that during the whole of that time it was beset by ignorant, unrelenting, and bitter foes; that marginal notes were easily added and in after years easily embodied in the text by unintelligent copyists and printers, such a theory as here advanced seems not at all improbable.” (Volume 1, Page xi)

“Rabbi or in the Boraithoth and Tosephta were called Tanaim (singular Tana) signifying Instructors, Professors. The teachings of the colleges, covering a period of some centuries, which also found adherents and became the traditional law, were called Gemara, signifying ‘conclusion.’” (Volume 1, Page xviii)

“Finally Rabbi Jehudah the Prince, generally called Rabbi, concluded to collect all the Mishnayoth in his college for proper arrangement.” (Volume 1, Page xvi)

Product Details

• Title: The Babylonian Talmud: Original Text, Edited, Corrected, Formulated and Translated into English
• Translator: Michael L. Rodkinson
• Publisher: The Talmud Society, 1918
• Volumes: 19
• Resources: 1
• Pages: 4,105
• Language: English
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Talmud
• Metadata Last Updated: 2019-10-03T22:03:12Z

About Michael L. Rodkinson

Michael Levi Rodkinson (1845–1904) was the first scholar to translate major portions of the Babylonian Talmud into English. Born in Israel, Rodkinson lived in Germany for a short period before moving permanently to New York City, where he worked as a publisher. His other works include The Pentateuch: Its Languages and Its Characters and The History of Amulets, Charms, and Talismans.