"Essential Torah is really that-an essential and excellent tool for both students and teachers who want a way in to the sacred text and all that it holds."
-Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, author of The Women's Torah Commentary and The Women's Haftarah Commentary

"Essential Torah provides a thorough and clear introduction to the Bible, its meanings, and its interpretations throughout Jewish tradition. Drawing upon both classical rabbinic and modern sources, Robinson has written a sophisticated yet accessible book that will appeal to both laypeople and academic readers. I highly recommend it for adult education and introduction to Judaism courses."
-Rabbi David Ellenson, president, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

"George Robinson excels as both a writer and a scholar. He opens up the Torah and makes it accessible in fresh and exciting ways. Both experts and neophytes will find much here to enjoy and to ponder."
-Professor Jace Weaver, Department of Religion, University of Georgia

"The most comprehensive and balanced book on the subject I know. You will find anything you need to know here, from a discussion of divine authorship to a recipe for kosher ink."
-Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

"George Robinson has written a magnificent volume, whose appeal will be to a sophisticated reader eager for insight and understanding. Essential Torah is more than a guide to the Pentateuch. It is a compendium of literary history, cultural anthropology, ancient wisdom, medieval commentary, and modern insight. The Torah text for Robinson becomes a pretext for instruction into the entire gamut of Jewish religious thought and practice. He leaves very few stones unturned, and he leads as a master teacher, exploring every facet of a vast tradition. This is text analysis at its greatest."
-Rabbi David M. Posner, Ed.D., Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanu-El, New York City