Text transcribed from caption: J-46602 REFORM JUDAISM PRODUCES COMMENTARY ON TORAH NEW YORK -- Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut of Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, examines Volume I of the first commentary on the Torah ever to be produced by Reform Judaism in North America. Done under the auspices of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Commentary on Genesis took four years to produce. Rabbi Plaut wrote the commentary with the assistance of Professors Stanley Gevirtz and William W. Hallo of Yale University and Matitiahu Tsevat of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Although every program of Jewish education teaches Torah, few texts combine the elements of Hebrew, translation and commentary in the manner of the new work. Each book of the Torah is divided into six sections -- an introductory note, the original Hebrew, the new translation of the Jewish Publication Society, a brief commentary on the text with a discussion of the section’s major theme or themes, and a section of “Gleanings.” The gleanings are quotations and excerpts from a wide variety of sources, including the Koran and the writings of such literary figures as Shakespeare and John Milton. “This commentary takes the religious approach,” Rabbi Plaut said. “It recognizes the touch of the Divine, but it also takes cognizance of the latest scientific research. It represents the teaching tradition of Israel.” He explained that “our commentary disagrees with traditional interpreters over divine origin and Mosaic authorship, but it does agree with them on treating the text as it is, a unified whole, for it was approached this way by many generations and, in this way, it has made its impact on history.” Volume I of the commentary, published Jan. 15, will be available at $12.50 in hardcover and $7.50 in paperback. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (A-NY-1B-75-DS)