Zohar Harakia ; English Translation, Philip J. Caplan

English translation by Philip J. Caplan Rabbi Shimon ben Zemach Duran (1361-1444) was a colorful rabbinic authority in Algiers. In his book, Zohar Harakia, on methods of enumerating the 613 commandments, he summarizes the work of previous authorities on this subject, especially Maimonides and Nachmanides. He also presents his own system of enumeration. Thus, his work is a compact introduction to this fundamental subject. The text, first printed in 1515, is written clearly and arranged as a commentary on ibn Gabirol's poetic version of the 613 commandments, which is chanted on Shavuot. This English translation and notes make it accessible to lay readers as well as students of Jewish law, liturgy, and medieval Jewish history. Phillip J. Caplan, author of a popular book on Jewish law for Jewish lay readers, has produced a new translation of the Zohar HaRakia. The original text was written by Rabbi Shimon ben Zemach Duran in the early sixteenth century, and functions to enumerate and comment on what became the classic 613 religious commandments for Jewish life. Caplan has done meticulous research to create an accurate text as well as correct errors that crept into some historical editions. This translation is dominated by a laudable concern for accuracy. When sentences are particularly incomprehensible in direct translation, the author avoids revising structure to create a meaningful English sentence, but may add the actual subject or object of the sentence in brackets so readers are not wholly lost. Occasional footnotes mark places in the text where the translator was confused by what the author meant, or there were possible errors in the original manuscript. There is a short glossary and a long citations index. Readers whose interest is in technical scholarship will be grateful. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Contents 6 Introduction 10 Zohar Harakia: General Principles 13 The Positive Commandments 66 Appendix to the Zohar Harakia 422 Glossary 440 Translator's Afterword 443 Index 446 Shimon Ben Zemach Duran ; English Translation, Phillip J. Caplan. Translated From Hebrew.