This book is not what I had hoped it would be, but it is useful in its way. I was hoping it would go into the Torah in more detail, instead it provides a method for reading the Torah with examples of how the meaning has been teased out from age to age. This is all very interesting, but not as informative as I'd hoped.

I understand this to be the first of a series of books covering the entire Torah in this fashion.

I give it four stars because it does what it does quite well, as far as I can tell, but it just wan't right for me. ( )

Sepher Tov! Unlocking the Torah Text is an excellent introduction to an *adult* understanding of the Torah text. Most of us learned the stories as children. Goldin reintroduces them to us, showing us what we missed and introducing us to the rabbinic and scholarly interaction with the text. In dealing with Bereishit (Genesis), Goldin refreshingly avoids apologetics: he is concerned with teaching the adult learner some fascinating new things derived straight from the text and giving the reader some basic skills and appreciation for more scholarly understanding.

Unlocking the Torah Text is intended for an adult Jewish audience and hits this target squarely. However, it has also attracted attention outside the Jewish community as an introduction to a Jewish understanding of scripture. This book is exceptionally well suited for Christian adult bible studies or Sunday School classes, but will require that the leader have some understanding of the differences in naming and vocabulary between orthodox Jewish and traditional Christian names. ( )

Rabbi Shnuel Goldin's book, Unlocking the Torah Text is superb! He challenges the reader to approach the text by asking questions and then searching for the answers in the traditional commentaries and the midrashim. His analysis starts with a summary of the parsha and some questions. He outlines the approaches of traditional sources as well as applying logical and careful textual analysis. Then he works to resolve the disagreements between the sources and adds a summarizing section which pulls everything together in new and illuminating ways.
I was particularly impressed with the chapter, "Establishing Balance: Avraham's Live Draws to a Close." Drawing on five seemingly unconnected events in Avraham's life, Rabbi Goldin focuses on Avraham's self definition as a ger v'toshav in the negotiations with the Hittites for purchasing Sarah's grave site in the Cave of the Machpeila. Avraham insists on buying the grave site, even though the Hittites offer it asa gift. Why? Read the book and find out. He summarizes Avraham's life in this chapter and also sees it as a pattern established for all of his descendants.
His discussion of the events in the story of Yosef which is spread across several parshiot is also excellent. He starts with the questions of why Yosef is called the Tzaddik, or the righteous one, and follow through to the question illuminated on the front cover, why didn't Yosef phone home?
In short, this is an in-depth analysis that will spur readers to lively discussions at the Shabbat table and to research and ask even more questions. I hope he continues and writes books on the remaining books of Chumash. Pull this one out of the stack and buy it. It's great! ( )

I requested this book because over the last few years I've been teaching more and more work which deals directly or indirectly with Judaism. As such, I've been thinking for some time that I needed to become more familiar with the belief system and texts. I opened this book expecting a slow and difficult read, but instead what followed was a pleasure. This is a wonderful lesson in close reading on its own, and I believe would be engaging and worthwhile for either a beginner like myself or someone far more versed in the Torah.
It is organized and written clearly, and the author is both engaging in voice and ideas. Rather than simply arguing for a particular interpretation, Goldin makes a point of outlining and explaining various interpretations, allowing for the reader to make their own conclusions with the given ideas and evidence. Really, I have nothing to criticize here. There were a few points towards the end when I felt the author was somewhat rushed, but for the most part, this wasn't an issue. I learned a great deal in reading this book, and was impressed at how pleasurable the reading experience was. I'd say that this would be the ideal text for engaging individuals in their belief system and teaching fundamental ideas about the Torah. If this book sounds remotely interesting, I'd recommend it highly. ( )