Leonard J. Greenspoon
By Leonard J. Greenspoon
-
Culture Translating Torah
Of all the devarim — “words” or, more generally, “things” — in the Book of Devarim, or Deuteronomy, few attract less notice than the first five verses. Often set apart as a separate, and introductory, paragraph in modern translations, these verses — as opaque in their syntax as they are in their geographical references —…
-
Culture Strategies for Remaining True
Translators of ancient texts, including those who render the Hebrew Bible, not uncommonly confront passages and phrases that do not seem to make sense as transmitted or that, in alternate (and also ancient) wording, fit better into the immediate context. No matter what approach these translators take — from hyper-literal to periphrastic — they must…
-
Culture Translations And Transliterations
Each of the first three chapters of Leviticus, and therefore of this week’s portion, Va-Yikra, is taken up with a detailed description of a different offering or sacrifice. Although many modern readers of the Hebrew Bible devote little more than a glance to this material, it was obviously important to the ritual life, and therefore…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Books In ‘Something We Said,’ Richard Pryor’s daughter finds words to discuss the unspeakable
- 2
Opinion It’s time for Jews who love Israel to give up on Zionism
- 3
Culture ‘My mayor Muslim, my bagel Jewish’ — the Knicks chant capturing New York’s soul
- 4
Opinion New York’s Israel Day parade was a shanda — but not because of Mamdani
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward ‘This is sort of their normal’: Israelis confront yet another wartime flare after Iranian fire
-
Fast Forward Celebrated German Jewish bakery closes, saying ‘the hatred reached Berlin’ after Oct. 7
-
Fast Forward Dave Matthews pushes back on claims his criticism of Israel is antisemitic
-
Sports Memes, mashiach and ‘Torah-cyclopedias’ put a Jewish twist on the Knicks’ title chase