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I cannot read Hebrew. I would like to learn Hebrew eventually but I would like to know what exactly these books are. I was able to translate one book and found out it was the Shulchan Aruch. I am completely lost on the rest...if you can please help. This has given me a big headache trying to learn this language by myself. -___-
I know somebody who does these types of translations for a living. He charges about $50 per hour, and by my guess, you'd need a few thousand hours of work from him to accomplish your goal. But hey, this would employ him for about a year. PM me if you want his contact info.
Short of that, for what purpose do you want these translations? Items like the Shulchan Orech and the Mishna Torah would be deeply out of context to an unlearned Jew, and even worse for the non-Jew. Jews tend to be very mistrustful of non-Jews who seek to understand our works, unless they are sincere in a desire to be Jewish themselves. These works are not meant for non-Jews.
The second is Maimonides's Mishneh Torah: Mishneh Torah
The third seems to be a collection of questions and answers (Sh'eilot u'Teshuvot), which I presume is about Jewish law since it has the words "Orach Chaim" as a subtitle, a common title for works on halakha.
The 4th is obviously the Babylonian Talmud.
The 5th seems to be an encyclopedia about reading the Torah
The 6th seems to be "Meor Haavot veToldoteihem" (light/Glory of our Forefathers and their Descendants), and seems to be about Pirkei Avot (Chapters/Ethics of Our Forefathers)
I would not recommend trying to learn Hebrew from these books. These are all books written in the post-exilic period so it's not exactly Biblical Hebrew but it's not Modern Hebrew either. Prepare to see lots and lots of Aramaic.
I suspect the OP is wanting to learn Judaism more than Hebrew. So also not the place to glean any learning about the Jews - or at least a million miles away from where to start. And as usario said, there will be a significant amount of Aramaic.
I suspect the OP is wanting to learn Judaism more than Hebrew. So also not the place to glean any learning about the Jews - or at least a million miles away from where to start. And as usario said, there will be a significant amount of Aramaic.
If I was trying to learn hebrew and judaism together, I would start with the siddur, or with the chumash.
A. the texts are ones that are going to be more common currency among the semi-learned, or slightly learned.
B. there are plenty of translations around to make it easier.
I might even forego my usual bias against Artscroll and suggest the artscroll siddur can be a useful translation for language learning. Just don't take the commentaries TOO seriously.
I would not recommend trying to learn Hebrew from these books. These are all books written in the post-exilic period so it's not exactly Biblical Hebrew but it's not Modern Hebrew either. Prepare to see lots and lots of Aramaic.
another way to learn judaism while learning hebrew is to study the mishnah. the hebrew grammar of mishnaic Hebrew is easier for an English speaker than biblical hebrew.
Disadvantages - there aren't that many translations available. The concepts discussed will be quite unfamiliar to someone new to Judaism.
another way to learn judaism while learning hebrew is to study the mishnah. the hebrew grammar of mishnaic Hebrew is easier for an English speaker than biblical hebrew.
Disadvantages - there aren't that many translations available. The concepts discussed will be quite unfamiliar to someone new to Judaism.
BBD, you (should) know I have enormous respect for you and your opinions. But this advice is just flat out bad. For a non-Jew to be poking their head around the Mishna is exactly the kind of thing that has led to pograms and other similar events with the end result of dead Yidden.
BBD, you (should) know I have enormous respect for you and your opinions. But this advice is just flat out bad. For a non-Jew to be poking their head around the Mishna is exactly the kind of thing that has led to pograms and other similar events with the end result of dead Yidden.
I didnt know the OP was not jewish - how did they procure a library like that?? I assumed it was a non-observant Jew who had inherited it. If its someone with jewish ancestry who is halachically non jewish, I wouldnt expect to see pogroms as a result. And I dont think we need to hide the mishnah or the talmud - all the "bad stuff" can easly be found on a zillion websites. And any english mishnah will come with a commentary. And I would assume anyone with the koach to get past brachos is pretty committed.
another way to learn judaism while learning hebrew is to study the mishnah. the hebrew grammar of mishnaic Hebrew is easier for an English speaker than biblical hebrew.
Disadvantages - there aren't that many translations available. The concepts discussed will be quite unfamiliar to someone new to Judaism.
Hi friend, glad to see you back.
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