Renowned Talmud scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz died Friday at the age of 83 from a prolonged illness.
Steinsaltz, known worldwide for his groundbreaking translation of the entire Babylonian Talmud, was lauded for making the ancient Jewish texts accessible to all. He was honored with the Israel Prize for Jewish Studies for his work.
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An educator and the author of over 60 books, Steinsaltz was also a physicist and chemist, a sharp social critic, and a beloved public figure in the Israeli public sphere.
Steinsaltz's dedicated most of his life – 45 years – to what he once called the "once-in-a-millennium" intellectual undertaking of translating the vast, 1,500-year-old Aramaic tome into modern Hebrew with a running commentary.
He launched the formidable endeavor in 1965 and completed it in 2010. The 41-volume translation was hailed as "a revolutionary achievement."
President Reuven Rivlin paid tribute to Steinsaltz: "I was sad to learn of the passing of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. He was a man of spirit and of spiritual courage, depth, and thought. My deepest condolences go out to his many followers and his dear family. May his memory be blessed."
The Tzohar rabbinical organization said it was "deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, an exceptional leader of both Torah and love for the land. His life's work opened countless doors for people to study and helped bridge the diverse communities within the Jewish world. He will be forever remembered as a teacher defined by passionate caring for his people and spreading the beauty of Judaism all across the globe."
Steinsaltz is survived by his wife, three children, and numerous grandchildren.
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