This is a reserved, sound, and contemporary examination of Torah from the Weekly Torah Portion.

"Entering Torah" is an excellent introductory text that provides some theological perspectives on the Torah from Rabbi Hammer's Judaic perspective. Being a neo-Pagan, I've always been interested in many different belief systems, but have never found explanatory texts that provide the detail that this one does. Many of the basic conceptual aspects of Judaism were quite foreign to me when I started -- and while I could never claim to be even an individual with more than a passing knowledge, this book provided an insight I don't believe I could have gotten anywhere else. For someone beginning their Torah studies or wanting a very gentle approach to bringing the aspects of Torah into their everyday life -- this book will definitely do just that! ( )

Reuven Hammer's Entering Torah is a very good book in my opinion. It gives explanations or commentary on the weekly Torah portions from both an orthodox and progressive point of view. One can understand the popularity of Dr. Hammer's column in the "Jerusalem Post". Rabbi Hammer show's a great deal of compassion in his interpretation of the ancient scripture and many ways a very modern one that may best understood by his targeted audience.

The Torah Portion is essentially what Christians whom belong to churches with a higher degree of ritual would call the the Weekly Lectionary selection. And as the Portion readings are much older then the Lectionary it is most certainly where that practice is derived from.

I can recommend this book to anyone wishing to achieve a better understanding of the that part of the Bible known known as the Torah or the Five Books of Moses according to traditional Jewish understanding and therefore perhaps increasing their own knowledge. ( )

Reuven Hammer's _Entering Torah_ is precisely what the book claims to be, an introductory text dedicated to teaching about basic ways to read Torah passages. As such it is a fairly simple text, both in language and in thought making it very accessible and though it is geared towards the observant Jew its is readable by anyone who has an interest in Jewish ways of interpreting Jewish scripture. _Entering Torah_ makes use of various Mishna in order to give a wide ranging interpretive view, though traditional kabbalistic interpretations are noticeably lacking. While Hammer does attempt to also use a historical-critical approach in his commentary this is only partially successful. Though he notes the need to understand the text in its initial context Hammer tends to give highly biased interpretations of the cultures surrounding Bronze Age Judaism and earlier Hebraic religion. That is to say while the Jewish (and proto-Jewish) experience is unique and what might otherwise be interpreted as horrendous (from a modern perspective) practices should be given the benefit of the doubt Babylonian, Egyptian, Canaanite, etc. cultures are not given the same treatment and their religious beliefs and practices are stereotyped according to predictable and traditional patterns. However, as _Entering Torah_ is, ultimately, a religious text about reading Torah in a theological manner this tendency is only disappointing but not actually a detriment to its overall mission. Anyone who is interested in understanding Torah from a Jewish perspective would do well to give _Entering Torah_ a read.

Hammer's reverence for the text of the Torah and his concern for compassion and honesty shows through in /Entering Torah/. He is able to artfully, not artificially, draw the reader into the text by asking insightful and meaningful questions of the text. The overall feel is one of awe and dialogue rather than dogmatism and catechism - a refreshment for those raised in non-Jewish traditions. ( )