Michael carasik biography

About the author Michael Carasik.
Michael Carasik teaches Biblical Hebrew at the University of Pennsylvania, is the weekday Torah reader at Historic Congregation Kesher Israel in Center City.
Michael Carasik, PhD, is the author/translator of The Commentators' Bible: The Rubin JPS Miqra'ot Gedolot.

•

Michael Carasik, Bible scholar, Philadelphia

“My outsider’s view is that it is not ‘the Orthodox denomination’ that dominates Israel’s religious establishment but a certain limited Orthodox crowd.”

The Interviewee – Michael Carasik (Born 1952), I’m a Bible scholar and support myself through freelance writing, teaching, and synagogue work. Born in Chicago, today – resident of Philadelphia.

In your opinion, what importance, if any, does the existence of a Jewish state have to you personally and to Jewish people in general?

“It (1) protects my life in a way that was not possible when there was no Jewish armed force; (2) provides a center for Jewish language and culture.”

Do you feel committed in some way to defend the future existence of Israel?

“I feel morally committed but find it hard to picture a situation where I could help in any practical way.“

Do you affiliate yourself with a specific denomination in Judaism? What is your view regarding the dominance of the Orthodox denominatio

•

The Commentators' Bible: Genesis

"[The Commentators' Bible: Genesis brings] to life the voices of medieval Bible commentators in a contemporary English translation annotated for lay readers."—Lynn Garrett, Publishers Weekly

"The Commentators' Bible series is to be commended for offering lay readers an opportunity to experience the world of medieval Torah commentary."—Rabbi Rachel Esserman, Reporter Group

“The [Commentators’ Bible] volumes have been given a layout and a binding that are simply a delight. They are printed with a clear script. The layout . . . is simple, allows quick reference, and invites the reader to join the centuries-long dialogue on the texts of Torah. As Carasik puts it: ‘The page is set up as a conversation among the commentators, in which the reader is encouraged to join.’”—Bulletin for Biblical Research

“Anyone who is unfamiliar with medieval commentary, or who is unable to study the commentators in the original Hebrew, will find T
•
Michael Carasik taught Biblical Hebrew for many years at the University of Pennsylvania. He has a bachelor's degree from New College (Sarasota, Fla.), bachelor's and master's degrees in Jewish studies from Spertus College in Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Bible and the ancient Near East from Brandeis University. His Biblical Hebrew video course is available from the Teaching Company, and he blogs at • michaelcarasik.substack.com • torahtalk.substack.com • mcarasik.wordpress.com • blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/michael-carasik/ Send your questions for Michael to bibleguy.mc@gmail.com. Michael's book The Bible's Many Voices is meant to break through the "Biblical English" barrier and give general readers a "listener's guide" to what this amazing 1,000-year collection of literature actually says, as a book of history and literature. He's also the creator of the Commentators' Bible -- an English-language version of the traditional Jewish Torah commentaries. The entire set — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy — is n