New York – In the 1960s, when a young Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz embarked on the mammoth task of translating the ancient Jewish texts of the Talmud into modern Hebrew and, even more daringly, providing his own commentary alongside those of the classical sages, the state of Israel was still in its teens, there were no home computers, and man had not yet landed on the moon.
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The monumental work took 45 years. But this month in his hometown, Jerusalem, Rabbi Steinsaltz, now 73, marked the end of the endeavor, as the last of the 45 volumes of his edition of the Babylonian Talmud, originally completed 1,500 years ago, rolled off the press.
“When I began it I did not think it would be so difficult or so long,” the rabbi said in a meandering interview that went late into the night at his Steinsaltz Center for religious studies in the city’s historic Nahlaot neighborhood. “I thought it would take maybe half the time.”
First, he said, there was the arrogance of youth, then financial and political obstacles, several spells in the hospital and the disruptive effect of a few wars.
It’s interesting what he says that: “he has little patience for vanity or pretense, and says he admires the unsparing honesty and curiosity of small children, finding them more inspiring than some adult members of the species”.
Rabbi Michoel Ber Weissmandel zt”l said the same that he admires children because they are simple, “complitzirt bin ich” he used to say.
Comes to show that geniuses think alike.
For many yidden, Rav Steinsalz, shlita is among the greatest of the gadolim of this generation who has made daas torah more accessible to more yidden than any other Rav alive today. He should live and be well and a malitz yosher for all of us.
He should be a melitz yosher for all yidden. He truly has brought daas Torah to all yidden.
This man is a blessing to Klal Yisroel. My community (and many others around the world) had a “Steinsaltz” festival a couple of weeks ago on the day of his work’s completion. It was a day for all Jews to come together and here, the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbis all spoke at the same forum about the meaning of this monumental work. There were about 6 events here over a 2 day period and they were widely attended.
Mah yofis!
Isn’t a curious how the New York Times otherwise known as one of the most antisemetic papers considers Steinsaltz’s work to be eppis choshuv – not Artscroll, or Schottenstein as many call it! The Gedolim call the Artscroll as the gemorah that brought more Torah to the masses than any other. There are Haskamos from Gedolim of every walk of life including the Rebbes of Viznitz, Belz, Novominsk just to name a few along with Rav Elyashiv, Rav Chaim Kanievsky etc. The idea to do it was initiated by Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky zatza”l, but who are they to the NY Times! LOL
In fact there are very recent pictures of Rav Elyashiv and Rav Steinman even learning from the Schottenstein! But if the NY Times says it this way – I guess they’re in the know; I’m just young and stupid!
I totally respect and am in awe of Rav Steinsalz and his accomplishments. Yet, if I am not mistaken, he has been the targets of some who call him an “apikorus”, which, in my opinion is baseless. I also remember being told as a younger man that learning from his gemorrahs is “ossur”… Well, I don’t buy it. Kal HaKavod to Rav Steinsaltz.
A true Gadol. He was doing this when artscroll was still a greeting card company makig Kesubas invites, and stuff. I beleive it would be fair to say they copied him.
I will be thankful to the people at Artscroll/Mesorah whilst the Slimes could talk about whom they wish.