Chekalim - The Steinsaltz Talmud T8 (color), Biblieurope editions

The Steinsaltz Talmud T8

Chekalim

Translated paragraph by paragraph
Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

Drahi Edition - Color

Biblieurope Editions

The new edition of the Steinsaltz Talmud in French aims, like the previous one, to give everyone, regardless of their level, access to the Talmudic text – originally written without punctuation or vowels, in a concise style, in a mixture of Hebrew and Aramaic, a language little known to most readers.

In the second half of the ^20th century, Rabbi Steinsaltz, of blessed memory, pioneered the work of publishing a punctuated and vocalized edition in Hebrew, and later in other languages. This edition presents the correspondence of each word of the Talmud in bold, with explanations added in regular type, essential for understanding each sentence and following the Gemara step by step.

In this edition, the text of the Talmud is divided into paragraphs, translated as they appear. It includes numerous studies and halakha taken from the Steinsaltz edition in Hebrew, summarizing the main commentaries and the conclusions of the decisors on each topic addressed. It is enriched new illustrations.

At the end of each book, it includes the original text of the treatise according to the classical Vilna edition, with the commentary of Rashi – which, here, is punctuated and vocalized – and that of the Tosafot, also punctuated.

We hope that this publication will achieve the goal that Rav Steinsaltz zal sought throughout his life: to enable every Jew to know and appreciate his ancestral heritage in order to strengthen the love of the Torah among the people.

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The tractate Shekalim – “the Shekels” – speaks primarily of finances and organization within the Temple.

According to its content, it should have belonged to the Talmudic Kodachim Collection relating to sacrifices and the Temple, but it was inserted into that of the Festivals, because the annual collection of the half-shekel for the Temple takes place on a very specific date, like the festivals, and precedes or sometimes determines the chronological succession of the different services in this Place.

The Temple was the scene of bustling and complex activity. Thousands of people came there every day, in addition to the (fixed or rotating) groups of Kohanim and Levites. Since some tractates of the Kodashim Collection—notably Zeva'him and Mena'hot—primarily describe the Kohanim service, it is also necessary to provide details about the entire infrastructure that made it possible.

Besides the daily communal offerings, including flour offerings, animal sacrifices, wine libations, and altar wood, the upkeep of the Temple walls and utensils, the provision of the Kohanim's services, and the repair of the walls of Jerusalem also required significant funds from the Temple treasury. Furthermore, a complex organization was necessary to meet the needs of those who came to pray or offer sacrifices at the Temple, with qualified personnel for the various tasks involved.

Biblieurope Editions