Teaching Torah to a New Generation

The long anticipated Conservative Humash, Etz Hayim, is finally in print and is winning accolades across the Jewish world. This exciting 21st century Torah commentary is the first such publication produced for Conservative synagogues since the 1929 “Hertz” Humash. It promises to become a landmark modern work, illuminating Torah for new generations in a spirit of love and reverence.

Etz Hayim represents the unique collaboration of many Conservative scholars and luminaries. Chaim Potok edited the peshat (plain meaning) commentary. Harold Kushner composed the derash (literary-psychological-midrashic) commentary. Elliot Dorff and Susan Grossman wrote the halakha le-ma’ase (guidelines for Jewish practice) commentary. Michael Fishbane contributed the commentary on the haftorot (prophetic portions). Jules Harlow served as literary editor. In addition, there are more than 40 topical essays, each written by a rabbi or scholar affiliated with the Conservative Movement.

Etz Hayim is a treasure trove for all of us. It is an educational tool of the highest order, including the latest scholarship in a wide variety of fields, from anthropology to biblical history.

The Humash will help us all to better understand the ideology of our own Movement, viewing biblical text through a Conservative Jewish lens.

Etz Hayim will also enhance our reading of the Torah on Shabbat, provoke new congregational discussions, and take readers to even higher levels of study.

As Rabbi Harold Kushner reminds us, “Jews do not read the Torah as one reads a newspaper, skimming it in search of something interesting. Neither do we read it as one reads a novel, to see how the story comes out… Jews read the Torah the way a person reads a love letter, eager to squeeze every last drop of meaning out of each word and phrase. To do that we needed a commentary to guide us through the text.”

Etz Hayim is the first modern Torah commentary to benefit from the welcoming of women as rabbis and Judaic scholars. It also responds to the unprecedented umber of Jews by choice in our congregations. Finally, it authenticates Conservative Judaism as the true heir of the rabbinic midrashic tradition by showing how Jewish laws and values evolved as social conditions changed.

The cleanly organized text is elegant, accessible and truly a joy to read! Etz Hayim’s handsome binding makes it an obvious gift for b’nai mitzvah, as well as an essential book for every home library.

To order Etz Hayim from the USCJ Book Service, click here.