Reading Material

[JeffB]

Hello everyone.

As an introduction to those who don't know me, no, I'm not Jewish, but I do abide by the Noahide laws.

While trying to study Torah, somebody pointed me in the direction of The Ramban, which I purchased the complete Torah commentary, and it has been a huge help! I have enjoyed Mamondies very much!

But I need a balance in my life of reading material. I study Torah via Ramban and cross it online with Rashi commentary. I need something that will both educate / feed me, yet is not within the format of commentary.
I'm getting a $100 Amazon gift card and have been looking at 'stuff' to buy and found these two books by Maimonides.

Maimonides' Introduction to the Talmud: A Translation of Maimonides Introduction to His Commentary on the Mishna With Complete Original Hebrew Text [Paperback]
http://www.amazon.com/Maimonides-Int...=2ROISJ5UXGHJ2

and this one

A Maimonides Reader (Library of Jewish Studies)
http://www.amazon.com/Maimonides-Rea...=2ROISJ5UXGHJ2

Is this too much Maimonides, or should I mix it up with other readings?
Any suggestion (that I can purchase of Amazon) will be highly considered.

Thanks!
Jeff

[Shabbos]

Ramban and Rambam are two different people. RambaN = Nachmanides, RambaM = Maimonides.

[JeffB]

Well imagine that And I thought all this time that it was simply spelled differently because of dialect LOL!

Thanks for pointing that out to me.

[noahidelaws]

So perhaps there's your answer--balance your study of Rambam with study of the Ramban!

[Shabbos]

Rambam and Ramban are very often confused, especially when speaking...to the point that many people pronounce them with a different inflection just to make it easier to distinguish the sounds. Rambam is pronounced RAMbam, emphasizing the first syllable, and Ramban is pronounced RamBAN, emphasizing the second syllable. So you are not alone

In addition, you could try the Gutnick Chumash, which is on Amazon, last I checked. It incorporates beautiful commentaries from a number of different sources, rather than just one commentator, and they're not all "in the format of commentary" if you mean line-by line.

[JeffB]

Thanks guys!

Gutnick Chumash, sounds interesting! I'll certainly check it out.

Can you guys think of anything else to help me?

Thanks!

[MahTovChelkeinu]

Artscroll has a very nice, heavily annotated, English version of the book of Iyov ("Job" is how many secular sources pronounce it).

http://www.amazon.com/Iyov-Job-Trans...1025614&sr=8-1

Iyov is considered good reading material for non-Jews because Iyov himself, according to many commentaries, was not Jewish. The subject matter is a bit heavy as it deals with maintaining faith during difficult trials, but artscroll does a great job of dealing with the text in depth.

There is also a smattering of Noahide books. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no..._1.70_87&fsc=4

I can't vouch for all of the books, but its worth perusing the list to see if anything interests you.

[JeffB]

Hello MahTovChelkeinu,
I know it's been awhile, but I just ordered the English version of the book of Iyov from Amazon.
I also ordered "Hillel: If not Now, When? (Jewish Encouters)" by Joseph Telushkin.

Both sound very, very interesting and the story of Job has always resonated with me!

Thank you for your referal.

Jeff

[MahTovChelkeinu]

Jeff - I'm glad I was able to help. I hope you continue to find what you are looking for. Have a sweet new year.