Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site inmet.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!yale!inmet!nrh
From: nrh@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Reply to Don Black (long)
Message-ID: <7800375@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Aug-85 13:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.7800375
Posted: Thu Aug  8 13:52:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 07:24:55 EDT
References: <3630015@csd2.UUCP>
Lines: 53
Nf-ID: #R:csd2:-363001500:inmet:7800375:000:2577
Nf-From: inmet!nrh    Aug  8 13:52:00 1985


>/* Written  7:19 pm  Aug  6, 1985 by csd2!dimitrov in inmet:net.politics */
>>>As long as I'm asking you to explain your opinions, I might as well
>>>add your recent comment to the effect that "Christians should really
>>>read the Talmud; they'd really get an education." What exactly would
>>>they find out? Post all the details in net.religion.
>>
>>   Thanks, no.  I'll let the other occupants of net.religion post the details.
>>And take the resulting flak.
>>
>>     Honestly, I have not been able to find an English translation of the 
>>Talmud.  Unfortunately, the only information I have on it is what has been
>>published in so-called "hate literature."  What I've read there nauseates
>>me.  
>>
>>     I have two choices.  I can believe what I have read, or I can find out 
>>the truth.  I cannot find out the truth without reading the book.  If I read
>>the book, I can find out one of two things.  If the Hate Literature is correct
>>then I am justified in my criticism of Judaism.  If the Literature is wrong, 
>>then I owe people an apology.  There might be great philosophy in the Talmud,
>>but, unless I can read it myself, how can I judge?  I asked a book dealer
>>a year ago to find me one.  I'm still waiting.
>>
>>     I've noticed that many people get all bent out of shape whenever I say
>>anything on the net about Christians reading the Talmud.  I would think that
>>if there is such a thing as a Judeo-Christian ethic and heritage, then maybe
>>Christians should be reading it.  If it were really the great book that every-
>>body says it is, then Christians might be more tolerant of Jews, right?

As a public service (who says Libertaria would be under-supplied
with public goods?):

I called the folks at the Boston Public Library and asked if they had
such a book.  Indeed, they did.  One reference:

"The Talmud with English Translation and Commentary" Ed. by A. Ehrman,
Jerusalem, El-'am 1965.

The catalog folks said that it's in the research library, so you have to 
read it there.  

What's that?  You want to BUY a copy of the Talmud?  No problem.  Page
217 of the Boston Yellow Pages has an ad for the "Israel Book Store".
They carry the Soncino Talmud, in English, all 18 volumes for $275
(yes, it's in stock).

By the way, neither at the library nor the bookstore did anyone appear
to get "bent out of shape" by my question.

So let's not hear any implications that the Talmud is tough to find,
and that therefore you can't check the Hate Literature.  It took
me 30 minutes or so to get this info (most of it on "Hold" at the 
library).