The Pentateuch and Haftorahs: Hebrew Text English Translation and Commentary

by Joseph H. Hertz (Editor)

Youve used it for years in synagoguenow take your own copy home. Popularly known as the Hertz Chumash, this classic Hebrew-English edition of the Five Books of Moses, with corresponding Haftorahs, is used in synagogues and classrooms throughout the English-speaking world. In this compact volume, the late Chief Rabbi of England, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Hertz, provides readers with a lucid exposition of the text and the spiritual and ethical teachings of the Torah, culled from a wide range of scholarly literature. It contains the full Hebrew text, line-by-line English translation, and the classic Hertz commentary. Complete with all the Haftorahs for holidays and special Sabbaths.

Genres: Religion, Judaism, Jewish, Judaica, Reference

1067 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1937

About the author

Joseph Herman Hertz, CH, Ph.D. (Columbia University; B.A., New York City College), was Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (U.K.), 1913–1946, and the first graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He previously served as Professor of Philosophy at Transvaal University College, 1906–08.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in an old bookshop, cracked it open, and bought it immediately when I noticed the extensive commentary. I've been reading the weekly parashah for years but previously out of a full copy of Tanakh, so I never bothered looking up the haftorot and doing a bunch of flipping, and when I saw this was all nicely laid out I set that old Tanakh aside and have been using this for the last couple years.

Coming as I do from a more liberal branch of Judaism, it's a little refreshing to see Rabbi Hertz's full-throated cheerleading. I'm generally used to more "our tradition states that" or "if you feel it's meaningful" language. Rabbi Hertz does not mince words--he more or less says that you're all lucky that Judaism exists because if it weren't for us you'd be ignorant savages who were still sacrificing your children to Moloch. It's a little jarring, but it's also helpful to remember that the commentary was written in the 1930s amidst a background of rising antisemitism and claims that Judaism was basically everything that was wrong in the world. When strong claims are presented, strong counterclaims are warranted.

This does go a bit far occasionally, maybe because of the context. The commentary often outright states that the Children of Israel were the only moral people in the world and everyone around them were a sea of ignorant barbarians. Like:

G-d had suffered the heathens to worship the sun, moon, and stars as a stepping-stone to a higher stage of religious belief. That worship of the heathen nations thus forms part of G-d's guidance of humanity. But as for the Israelites, G-d had given them first-hand knowledge of Him through the medium of Revelation.

It's okay that you're still practicing your religion; you don't know any better! Someday your culture will grow up. This is normative Jewish belief--Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our G-d, the LORD is one--but it's probably my previously-mentioned liberal background that makes this sentiment grate a bit.

That isn't the entire point of the commentary, of course, there's a lot of explication of more esoteric or non-obvious points of the text. I would say that most non-Jews don't understand that the interpretation of various passages they deem barbaric, like stoning disobedient children, were such that the punishments were never carried out. This usually occurs when the Torah imposes the death penalty--if you read the Talmudic commentary, there are always so many stipulations placed on it that carrying out the execution is impossible in practice. Rabbi Hertz says:

The Rabbis tell us that this law was never once carried out; and, by the regulations with which the infliction of the death-penalty was in this case surrounded, it could not be carried out

For example, the passage says that "they shall say" that "our son," so it's only possible if both parents are agreed that their child deserves death. Also, they have to declare their child a "glutton and a drunkard," so it can only be applied if the child has stolen meat and alcohol, taken it outside the house, and eaten it all. And so on.

It reminded me of the parts of Surprised by God: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Religion which talked about how you as a singular individual cannot always be trusted to know what's best for you in religion. If you just rely on your own experience and understanding you'll be sure to miss things that the collective knowledge of those who came before you already determined. People do not always know what's best for them and that's as true in religious practice as in any other part of human life. Commentaries are necessary because if you just read Torah it won't give you an accurate view of how modern Judaism is practiced--for one, we're not still wandering in the desert and taking the Mishkan from place to place.

Simchat Torah is coming up, and after it does, I'll finish this book and then start it again for another year.

[Nigel Perels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only for the devout Jew or Christian Bible student. A useful commentary on the Torah and Haftorahs.
Not really a book which one reads other than as a devotional.

[Diana Kullman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was published in 1937 so the comparison of Jewish laws in the Torah to 'current' activities had interesting descriptions in the footnotes

[Michael Lewyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

he best and the worst thing about the Hertz Chumash is that Rabbi Hertz is not afraid to be a cheerleader for Judaism: for example, early on he takes on both atheists and Biblical literalists, squaring evolution with religion by explaining that the Torah is about the "ascent of Man" rather than stagnation. Because of Hertz's willingness to blend modernity and tradition, his Chumash has long been accepted by both Orthodox and Conservative congregations (though unfortunately it is less popular than it once was in both, as more sectarian competitors have gained "market share."

Once in a while he is a bit too much of a cheerleader for my tastes, and some of his points don't wear as well now as they did in the 1930s when he was writing. But nevertheless, the Hertz Chumash suits me better than any of the leading Orthodox Chumashes: it has more commentary than Aryeh Kaplan's translation, is less inclined towards fanciful legends than Artscroll, and is easier to follow than the Hirsch Chumash.

[Arthur Gershman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this the second best rendition, in Hebrew of the Torah with a side-by-side English translation, and provided with commentary, or is it just a matter of taste? According to my taste, the best version, and most modern, is "The Torah" by W. Gunther Plaut. You may read my review of that version, which I recommend when considering the purchase of this book.
For the record, the Pentateuch is another name for the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, the five books of Moses.

This book is most commonly used in the sanctuary of the Conservative synagogue, as compared to the Plaut volume, which serves the same purpose in the Reform synagogue.

I have both volumes side-by-side on an honored place in my living room. I recommend both. However, to my taste, Plaut is 'first among equals.'

Postscript: Don't be fooled by the title; Plaut includes the Haftorahs similarly to Hertz.

[Robert New England · Rating 5 out of 5]

For most of the 20th century this was the standard in most English speaking synagogues. Explains the spiritual teachings of the Torah from a wide range of classical and scholarly literature. Some sections focus on Peshat, others on Derash. Little distinction is made between the two. This book’s apologetics against higher biblical criticism are outdated; that alone mars this otherwise classic work.

[Bud · Rating 3 out of 5]

This edition of the Tanakh with commentaries is great for those interested is some serious Torah study. I keep this one on the shelf primarily for reference. my only beef is that it's a bit dated and the language reflects this but, all that aside, it's still a great resource.