A monumental elucidation of the Talmud
Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz zt"l (1937-2020) was one of the most consequential Jewish scholars of the modern era. Beginning in 1965, he undertook a project many considered impossible: a complete, page-by-page elucidation of the entire Talmud, translating the Aramaic into flowing modern Hebrew and adding the explanations a learner needs to follow the text on their own.
The work took decades to complete and later appeared in English as well, in an edition that lays his commentary alongside the traditional page. For countless students who had found the Gemara closed to them, his edition became the key that made an unaided page of Talmud genuinely readable for the first time.
Beyond the Talmud
Steinsaltz's scholarship reached well past the Talmud. He wrote widely on Jewish thought and mysticism, including "The Thirteen Petalled Rose," a modern classic on Jewish spirituality, and a commentary that opened the Tanya, the foundational text of Chabad Chassidus, to a broad readership.
He also built institutions to carry the work forward, founding educational and publishing bodies dedicated to Jewish learning. His aim throughout was consistent: to take texts that had become the preserve of specialists and place them within reach of any Jew willing to open them.
A legacy of access
In 1988 Rabbi Steinsaltz received the Israel Prize, the country's highest honor, in recognition of his contribution to Jewish study. The award reflected how far his influence had spread beyond any single community or movement.
His enduring legacy is one of access. By devoting a lifetime to making the Talmud and the wellsprings of Jewish thought understandable, he changed who was able to learn them — a gift that continues to open pages of Gemara long after his passing.
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At a glance
Key takeaways
- Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz zt"l (1937-2020) devoted his life to making the Talmud accessible.
- His signature work was a page-by-page elucidation of the entire Talmud, first in modern Hebrew and later in English.
- He also wrote on Jewish thought and Chassidus, including "The Thirteen Petalled Rose" and a commentary on the Tanya.
- He received the Israel Prize in 1988 for his contribution to Jewish study.
- Search FilteredTube for kosher, approved Torah video — the catalog grows every day.