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The Artscroll English Tanach: Stone Edition: The Jewish Bible (ArtScroll
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1416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
65 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Nosson Scherman
350 books15 followersNosson Scherman (Hebrew: נתן שרמן, born 1935, Newark, New Jersey) is an American Haredi rabbi best known as the general editor of ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications.
Scherman was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where his parents ran a small grocery store. He attended public school, but in the afternoons joined a Talmud Torah started in 1942 by Rabbi Shalom Ber Gordon, a shaliach of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Rabbi Gordon influenced many of the 200 boys in his afternoon Talmud Torah to enroll in yeshiva, including young Nosson Scherman, who became a dormitory student at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas at around age 10. Afterwards, he studied in Beth Medrash Elyon in Spring Valley, New York
Scherman worked as a rebbi (teacher) for about eight years at Torah VoDaas of Flatbush, later known as Yeshiva Torah Temimah. Afterwards he was a principal at Yeshiva Karlin Stolin of Boro Park for six years. During his tenure as principal, he was recommended to Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, director of a high-end graphics studio in New York named ArtScroll Studios, as someone who could write copy, and they collaborated on a few projects of brochures and journals.
In late 1975, a close friend of Zlotowitz, Rabbi Meir Fogel, died in his sleep, prompting Zlotowitz to want to do something to honor his memory. As Purim was a few months away, he decided to write an English translation and commentary on the Book of Esther, and asked Scherman to write the introduction. The book was completed in honor of the shloshim (the 30-day commemoration of a death) and sold out its first edition of 20,000 copies within two months. With the encouragement of Rabbi Moses Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, and other Gedolei Yisrael, the two continued producing commentaries, beginning with a translation and commentary on the rest of the Five Megillot (Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations and Ruth), and went on to publish translations and commentaries on the Torah, Prophets, Talmud, Passover Haggadah, siddurs and machzors. The name ArtScroll was chosen for the publishing company to emphasize the visual appeal of the books.
In its first 25 years, ArtScroll produced more than 700 books, including novels, history books, children's books and secular textbooks, and is now one of the largest publishers of Jewish books in the United States.
Selected bibliography:
Zlotowitz and Scherman are the general editors of ArtScroll's Talmud, Stone Chumash, Tanakh, Siddur, and Machzor series. They co-authored Megillas Esther: Illustrated Youth Edition (1988), a pocket-size Mincha/Maariv prayerbook (1991), and Selichos: First Night (1992). They have also produced a host of titles on which Scherman is author and Zlotowitz is editor.
Scherman contributed translations and commentaries for ArtScroll's Stone Chumash, the ArtScroll Siddurim and Machzorim, and the Stone Tanach. He served as general editor of the 73-volume translation Schottenstein edition of the Talmud from 1990 until 2005.
Scherman attributes his strong English language skills to the stronger general-studies departments that yeshivas had when he was a student, and his correspondence with two out-of-town high school classmates, Mendel Weinbach and Nisson Wolpin. He has said: "During the summers we used to write letters. Does anyone correspond today? We wrote to each other – that helped. We tried to outdo each other; we were big-shot teenagers. The only way to learn how to write is to write."
Scherman was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where his parents ran a small grocery store. He attended public school, but in the afternoons joined a Talmud Torah started in 1942 by Rabbi Shalom Ber Gordon, a shaliach of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. Rabbi Gordon influenced many of the 200 boys in his afternoon Talmud Torah to enroll in yeshiva, including young Nosson Scherman, who became a dormitory student at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas at around age 10. Afterwards, he studied in Beth Medrash Elyon in Spring Valley, New York
Scherman worked as a rebbi (teacher) for about eight years at Torah VoDaas of Flatbush, later known as Yeshiva Torah Temimah. Afterwards he was a principal at Yeshiva Karlin Stolin of Boro Park for six years. During his tenure as principal, he was recommended to Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, director of a high-end graphics studio in New York named ArtScroll Studios, as someone who could write copy, and they collaborated on a few projects of brochures and journals.
In late 1975, a close friend of Zlotowitz, Rabbi Meir Fogel, died in his sleep, prompting Zlotowitz to want to do something to honor his memory. As Purim was a few months away, he decided to write an English translation and commentary on the Book of Esther, and asked Scherman to write the introduction. The book was completed in honor of the shloshim (the 30-day commemoration of a death) and sold out its first edition of 20,000 copies within two months. With the encouragement of Rabbi Moses Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, and other Gedolei Yisrael, the two continued producing commentaries, beginning with a translation and commentary on the rest of the Five Megillot (Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations and Ruth), and went on to publish translations and commentaries on the Torah, Prophets, Talmud, Passover Haggadah, siddurs and machzors. The name ArtScroll was chosen for the publishing company to emphasize the visual appeal of the books.
In its first 25 years, ArtScroll produced more than 700 books, including novels, history books, children's books and secular textbooks, and is now one of the largest publishers of Jewish books in the United States.
Selected bibliography:
Zlotowitz and Scherman are the general editors of ArtScroll's Talmud, Stone Chumash, Tanakh, Siddur, and Machzor series. They co-authored Megillas Esther: Illustrated Youth Edition (1988), a pocket-size Mincha/Maariv prayerbook (1991), and Selichos: First Night (1992). They have also produced a host of titles on which Scherman is author and Zlotowitz is editor.
Scherman contributed translations and commentaries for ArtScroll's Stone Chumash, the ArtScroll Siddurim and Machzorim, and the Stone Tanach. He served as general editor of the 73-volume translation Schottenstein edition of the Talmud from 1990 until 2005.
Scherman attributes his strong English language skills to the stronger general-studies departments that yeshivas had when he was a student, and his correspondence with two out-of-town high school classmates, Mendel Weinbach and Nisson Wolpin. He has said: "During the summers we used to write letters. Does anyone correspond today? We wrote to each other – that helped. We tried to outdo each other; we were big-shot teenagers. The only way to learn how to write is to write."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 3, 2008
Of course, I've read this. In both languages! And, I love the fascinating mystery it still generates as a piece of writing. It is the sacred text with the most commentary about it from several religions. It is also the most misunderstood writing, despite all the study it has received. Good Torah, meaning teaching, has it's own message for each reader. The key to receiving the message it has is to be completely open to it, without reaction, without preconceived ideas about it, and without judgement. What you are meant to receive and learn from it, Torah will reveal to you. It will challenge you to really look at you and how you view the world and it will draw you to finding the sacredness in all aspects of life, to seeking justice, and to realizing our equal importance as humans in the spiraling progress of life. Let it challenge you!
January 31, 2014
The Old Testament in Hebrew, or The Hebrew Bible. A nice edition with Hebrew text on the right page and a new English translation on the left page. The Hebrew chapter and verse numbers (letters) are written unobtrusively in the right margin. Below the Hebrew text are annotations taken from Rabbinic sources, often with alternative, sometimes conflicting notes from different scholars. I like the fact that the Artscroll editors were objective and included differing viewpoints in the annotations. There are also extensive appendices covering everything from maps to charts of the ancient temple offerings. I recommend this to anyone who has the time and inclination to learn Biblical Hebrew. This one will always be on my "currently-reading" shelf.
March 14, 2010
An essential for a Jewish bookshelf, the Stone Tanach contains both Hebrew and English script and footnotes of commentary from various sources.
It's read traditionally, which is right-to-left, like in Hebrew. In the back (for English speakers, the front) there are appendices with a wealth of information: lineages, diagrams and pictures of things like the Ark of the Covenant. There's also a family history for you to write in, if you want to consider it a family bible.
It's read traditionally, which is right-to-left, like in Hebrew. In the back (for English speakers, the front) there are appendices with a wealth of information: lineages, diagrams and pictures of things like the Ark of the Covenant. There's also a family history for you to write in, if you want to consider it a family bible.
November 5, 2018
Libro (o conjunto de libros) fundamental del judaísmo, el Tanaj reúne los veinticuatro libros canónicos de la religión hebrea. Se divide en tres grandes partes: la Torá (Ley), los Nevi'im (Profetas) y los Ketuvim (Escritos). Constituye aquello que los cristianos denominan Antiguo Testamento, aunque éstos tienen 46 libros en lugar de 24. Indispensable para todos aquellos interesados en las religiones en general y en las religiones del Libro en particular.
April 30, 2021
This hard cover edition of the Torah (to Jews) or The Old Testament (to Christians) is nothing short of a treasure. The embossed crown on the cover is enough to make the reader pause in reverence. The substantial, gold adorned Holy Scripture is every bit what the sacred contents deserve.
A friend of mine gave me hers and I am deeply moved by it.
One side of the page is in Hebrew and the other is in English, which is wonderful for the serious Bible scholar. This version of the Song of Solomon will melt your heart!
A friend of mine gave me hers and I am deeply moved by it.
One side of the page is in Hebrew and the other is in English, which is wonderful for the serious Bible scholar. This version of the Song of Solomon will melt your heart!
September 29, 2023
Over the last few years, this has become my preferred OT version. The Rabbinical notes are often illuminating, but readers must also keep in mind their context since most are of ages past. Where differences between this translation and others, such as the ESV, occur, I am generally biased towards this version. As in all things... the Spirit must be our guide as we read YHVH's Word.
February 8, 2025
Great for practicing Hebrew and of course:
“This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth; rather, you should contemplate it day and night in order that you observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will act wisely.”
Joshua 1:8
“This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth; rather, you should contemplate it day and night in order that you observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will act wisely.”
Joshua 1:8
February 3, 2025
Nothing rivals. No source of text can even come close. The supreme tool to aid in all of life's aspects. If I was stuck with only one book to choose in my life this would be my choice no contest.
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May 17, 2009Tanach: The Stone Edition/Black : The Torah/Prophets/Writings : The Twenty-Four Books of the Bible Newly Translated and Annotated (The Artscroll Ser.)) by Nosson Scherman (1996)
December 21, 2014
Five + stars. Read daily.
March 4, 2017
The Stone Edition. Of course. Sublime. Satisfying. Jewish. I love it. Mine has the Rashi commentary too.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews