The Babylonian Talmud is often cited as the bedrock upon which Judaism stands. And yet, it remains a closed book for the majority of Jews. Since the Talmud's composition does not follow the rules of Western writing, beginning learners are often thwarted in their first attempts to "swim in the sea of Talmud." These modern learners often experience rabbinic literature as a sort of stream-of-consciousness writing that seems to wobble off-track quite frequently. Frustrated, these learners often give up. To understand the Babylonian Talmud (also called the Bavli) readers need to understand its...

Rabbi Judith Z. Abrams, well-known for her books that introduce the Talmud to modern students, provides an instructional book for those beginning Talmud students who want to explore the depths of the text.

As with the first two volumes in this series, The Talmud for Beginners, Volume 3: Living in a Non-Jewish World, introduces the beginner to an important book of the Talmud; in this case, Avodah Zarah, translated as Strange Worship. The theme, generally speaking, is Jewish relations with non-Jews.

Rabbi Abrams walks us through tractate Megillah in a warm, unintimidating, and highly informed way.

Creative, attractive, affordable prayer books for the holidays. Built around the concepts of tefillah (prayer), teshuvah (repentance), and tzedakah (sharing), the services include readings to challenge older children and adults, and stories and pictures to capture the attention of young children.

Simple poetry and full color pictures bring to life the structure and the central concepts of the Shabbat service.

Rabbi Judith Abrams draws from her rich knowledge of the Jewish tradition to create a discussion guide for the weekly Torah portion.

The Talmud is filled with knowledge, inspiration, and insights that enrich all facets of Jewish life. Yet many are intimidated by the thought of studying its text, and their hesitancy prevents them from experiencing the wisdom of its words. In this new volume, Rabbi Judith Abrams takes readers with her on a journey through one volume of the Talmud, offering reassuring guidance and making it meaningful and accessible to all. The Talmud for BeginnersDVolume 1: Prayer is the first book in a series by Rabbi Abrams. For lay readers who are unfamiliar with Talmud, this work serves as an...

In this unique volume Judith Abrams, author of the highly regarded series The Talmud for Beginners, examines the episodes recorded in rabbinic literature that suggest the actions of the women of those times. By overlooking what the sages thought about women, or what they believed women ought to do in theory, and by focusing upon the situational and behavioral patterns of these women, Abrams has constructed a credible and feasible account of what women belonging to the rabbinic era were actually like and the manner in which they conducted themselves on a daily basis. Upon looking at the...

Judith Abrams, author of the highly acclaimed The Talmud for Beginners, Volumes I & II, creates yet another way of making Talmud study easy and accessible for the novice. Rabbi Abrams has chosen to work with the Steinsaltz Edition of the Talmud, edited and with commentary by Adin Steinsaltz, one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the twentieth century. This volume is a must for both student and teacher.