Tiferet Yisrael ─ Translation and Commentary: Introduction and Chapters 1-9

The famed Maharal of Prague, a 16th-century mystic, is known for the legend of the Golem, but his Torah scholarship has remained a closed book to English speakers for far too long. While several attempts have been made to translate or abridge the Maharal’s Torah, the complexity of his thought has defied standard translation methodologies. This edition of the Tiferet Yisrael (the Splendor of Israel) seeks to present the Maharal’s thought in all its majesty and to enable beginners and scholars alike to grasp the overall structure of the Maharal’s concepts through the addition of innovative summaries and graphical aids. In the work, the Maharal contemplates questions of Jewish life, such as How can there be ritually observant Jews who behave immorally? What is the reason for performing Mitzvot (commandments)? Is there any relevance or meaning to performing Mitzvot if one doesn’t understand God’s reasons for commanding them? What is the path to self-fulfillment? The translation is lucid and faithful, with in-line comments to guide the reader in exploring the Maharal’s depths.

The Maharal of Prague was an important 16th-century Talmudic scholar, Jewish mystic, and philosopher who served as a leading rabbi in the cities of Mikulov in Moravia and Prague in Bohemia. Ramon Widmonte learned at Yeshivat Har Etzion and holds a degree in mathematics and computer science. He serves as a rabbi and educator in Johannesburg, South Africa.