The Torah: An Introduction for Christians and Jews

by David J. Zucker

As a chapter-by-chapter introduction to the Torah (also known as the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Bible), this work provides an excellent source for interfaith study and provides a wealth of representative examples of the Torah in the Christian Scriptures, and in the Rabbinic teachings of the Midrash and Talmud. The book begins with a general introduction to Torah. There are sections on the Hebrew Bible as a source of inspiration; its place in the ritual and prayer life of the synagogue; the term "Old Testament"; the divisions of the Hebrew Bible and how this compares to standard Christian editions of the Bible. David Zucker has written a unique book that introduces the Torah in a chapter-by-chapter format, and then documents how the Torah was understood, both by the early Church, and by Jews in the parallel period of Rabbinic teachings in the Talmud and Midrash. This approach, with gender neutral language throughout, makes for a superb educational format for a group interfaith study of the Torah; for individual study by Christians or Jews, or any other interested reader. Throughout the text, the author clearly demonstrates how the same body of scriptural writings can be subject to such widely divergent interpretations and be the focus of so much controversy throughout the ages. †

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2005

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapter by chapter summaries of each book in the Torah are good (sort of a sparknotes equivalent except slightly better if you just want to know whats in each book without taking a month of your life to read them all), but the analysis of each book is much too brief and lacking. This would make a decent introduction for high school students, but is lacking as a college introduction.