Bible translation expert to speak at Cong. Beth Am

Joel M. Hoffman Joel M. Hoffman, PhD. an expert in translation, Hebrew and the Bible will be a guest scholar at Congregation Beth Am, the weekend of March 26 through March 28.

Hoffman is the chief translator for the popular 10- volume series, My People’s Prayer Book, winner of the National Jewish Book Award, and for My People’s Passover Haggadah. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language and writes a biweekly column on Hebrew for the Jerusalem Post. Hoffman has served on the faculties of Brandeis University and Hebrew Union College.

Hoffman’s schedule is:

• A sermon on Friday, March 26 at the 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Service.

• Torah study on Saturday, March 27, at 9 a.m.

• A discussion of Hoffman’s latest book, And God Said: How Translations Conceal the Bible’s Original Meaning, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 27. The book offers detailed insight into the Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, Song of Songs, the “virgin birth” of Isaiah 7:14, and explores how translation mistakes mask the original meaning of the Bible.

• Passover program with religious school students and parents on Sunday March 28, at 10 a.m.

Beth Am is located at 2030 West Fletcher Ave. For information call the temple office 968-8511.