The Chumash: The Torah with a Timeless Commentary by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch Abridged in One Volume

by Samson Raphael Hirsch

The renowned Hirsch commentary on Chumash, abridged in one volume! The commentary of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch on Chumash is famous for its breathtaking insights into the language and themes of the Torah. Since it first appeared, nearly 150 years ago, the Rabbi Hirsch's commentary has gained worldwide popularity for the breathtaking scope of insight and information it offers to scholar, student and layman alike. It combines history, halachah, hashkafah and ta'amei hamitzvos into one magnificent pattern that stretches brilliantly across all of the Five Books of the Torah. And underlying the commentary is Rav Hirsch's unique approach to Lashon his profound analysis of the letters, root words and structure of words found in Chumash. This magnificent one-volume Chumash contains essential excerpts from the complete Hirsch commentary. This edition makes it much more practical to study the Hirsch commentary on the weekly parashah.

1088 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2012

About the author

Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was a German rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. Occasionally termed neo-Orthodoxy, his philosophy, together with that of Azriel Hildesheimer, has had a considerable influence on the development of Orthodox Judaism.

Hirsch was rabbi in Oldenburg, Emden, was subsequently appointed chief rabbi of Moravia, and from 1851 until his death led the secessionist Orthodox community in Frankfurt am Main. He wrote a number of influential books, and for a number of years published the monthly journal Jeschurun, in which he outlined his philosophy of Judaism. He was a vocal opponent of Reform Judaism and similarly opposed early forms of Conservative Judaism.

Reviews

[Robert New England · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original Torah commentary of Samson Raphael Hirsch stretched across six books. This is a one volume abridgment, yet still is about 1,000 pages long. The publisher notes that it has “gained worldwide popularity for the breathtaking scope of insight and information it offers to scholar, student and layman alike. It combines history, halachah, hashkafah and ta’amei hamitzvos into one magnificent pattern… underlying the commentary is Rav Hirsch’s unique approach to Hebrew, his profound analysis of the letters, root words and structure of words found in Chumash.” – This has a non-denominational, sometimes innovative, yet also highly traditional perspective. The commentary is from a long time ago, so it should be no surprise that it is not at all egalitarian.