From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Friday, August 29, 1997 1:16 AM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: Bible software
From: Dough Sharp
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: Bible software
Dear Eddie and fellow Rooters:
The response to the Bible software question was great, but unfortunately
for my needs, I didn't phrase my question very well.
I currently have BibleWorks for Windows, which is an outstanding Bible
study software program enabling me to do multiple searches and study the text
quite well. My desire is to complement or supplement this program with programs
designed to study the Scriptures from a more Hebraic perspective, and to
perhaps tap into some of the Jewish commentaries, etc. Though many of the
conclusions and observations of Judaism are obviously wrong, I believe we
can learn a lot by studying and evaluating their writings in the light of all
of Scripture. Through this I believe that we can obtain a better understanding
of the culture, language, and thinking of the people through whom HaShem
has chosen to reveal Himself to the world. We must be cautious, of course, yet
I believe that many insights may be gained through this form of study, and
after all, isn't this what we are all involved in as we seek to understand
and embrace the Hebraic roots of our relationship with HaShem?!
As I have searched for programs to help in my studies, I have come across the
following ones. My hope is that we have amongst the rooters some people who
have had some exposure to these or other programs and could give a "review"
or "comparison" of them? I would greatly appreciate any help I could get.
I do like my software to work easily but be powerful and "complete", if you
will. I am currently a Bible college student (though in my late 30's! -
don't ask! I know, I know....I've wasted my life! Oy vey!), and am a leader
of a home fellowship at my Church. It is my desire to be able to not only
grow myself, but to be able to help others, also. My next semester begins
in a few short weeks, so I look forward to your response(s).
Potential Programs I've Found (not in any particular order):
Encyclopedia Judaica
The Soncino Classics Collection
Bar Ilan's Judaic Library (though I believe this is only available in Hebrew,
which is a disadvantage for me since I haven't yet learned Hebrew - I do
intend to though)
Artscroll's Stone Edition of the Chumash
The Dead Sea Scrolls Revealed
The Book of Legends
Encyclopedia Talmudit (again, I believe this may only be available in
Hebrew)
Judaic Classics Deluxe Edition
Bible Scholar
Bible Scholar plus Rashi
Torah Codes
Torah Gematria (which may be a part of Bible Scholar, but I'm not sure)
Torah Power Builder
Talmud Master
Judaic Archives
Otzar Haposkim
Also, any help with the best Hebrew language self-study courses would be
appreciated. Torah Educational Software (which seems to consistently have
the best prices and can be accessed from Eddie's web site) has a package
that
includes:
Alef to Tav
Alef Bet Word Book
Hebrew Tutor
Any information on any of these programs, all of them, or any others you know
and like would be great! Are they in English or Hebrew, how easy to use, how
powerful, complete, which do you think would be best for my needs, etc.
I'm looking for any and all information that you can give me.
Thank you all for your help. May His blessings be upon you!
Shalom,
Doug Sharp
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Subject: Torah Educational Software
Reply-to: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Dear Mishpachah (family),
In order to help our members know where they can get
materials that will aid them in their studies, Hebraic Heritage
Ministries has established a networking relationship with "Torah
Educational Software" from Jerusalem, Israel. I would like to take
this opportunity to personal thank the President of Torah Educational
Software, Emanual, for providing a warm and friendly relationship
with Hebraic Heritage Ministries. It is my prayer that this
relationship with continue for a long time to the benefit of our
members, the Hebraic Heritage Network and Torah Educational Software.
Recently, through the kindness, courtesy and generosity of
the President of Torah Educational Software, Hebraic Heritage
Ministries was able to review selected Software products from Torah
Educational Software. It is my opinion that many people who are
members of our network will enjoy some of the Software products of
Torah Educational Software to aid you in your studies of the Jewish
Roots of your faith and to better understand the Hebrew Language.
Therefore, the rest of this e-mail with be a Software Review of
products I have reviewed from Torah Educational Software. If you would
like a more complete guide to other Software products of Torah
Education Software, you may visit their Web Site located at:
http://www.torahscholar.com/
In addition, this site and their Software Products are
directly accessable by a link from the Hebraic Heritage Web Site. We
have a link to Torah Education Software at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2175/index.html
You may also find product info at:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2175/heb_lang.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2175/israel.html
and
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2175/torahsch.html
The following is a Software Review of each product I was able
to review:
ENCYCLOPEDIA JUDAICA FOR YOUTH
Would you like to have access to the MANY articles on the
history of the Jewish people, their customs and the land of Israel
indexed with hyper-links to related articles? If so, this is the
product you need to obtain. Rather than going through the cumbersome
and time consuming task of looking through the Encyclopedia Judaica at
your local library, you can now have the many articles right on your
computer at home! Just think how fast you can locate and find info
that you are researching. You also are able to print any article on
your home printer and make and save notes on any topic of interest.
Want to look up info on Jewish Wedding Customs? You can do it with
this program. This program would be a nice addition to your study
library.
The features of this program include the following:
#1) Over 5,000 years of Judaic World History
#2) Over 1,400 Judaic topics
#3) Easy reading special screen fonts
#4) Events/Personalities (War and Peace)
#5) Boolean Logic Searches
#6) Hypertext Links to Text Database
#7) Hypertext Links to text picture and sound
#8) Exciting graphic picture Archive
#9) Zoom in pictures
#10) Built-in Hypertext NOTE TAKER
#11) Archives to Judaic Music
#12) Prints Text and Pictures
#13) Interactive quizes
#14) On line help
System Requirements: Windows 3.1 or Windows 95
List Price: $179 Internet Special: $139
Many of you are interested in learning the Hebrew Language. If
this is so, there are several good programs to help you do this. If
you are just a beginner and need to learn the alphabet, you can
purchase:
ALEPH TO TAV
This program will display and pronounce each letter of the
Hebrew alphabet. It will also sing the alphabet !!!! Furthermore,
there is a designated word for each letter of the alphabet that you
display on a farm! Have fun designing the looks of a farm and learn
the Hebrew alphabet and selected words at the same time! For those of
you who need to rehearse seeing and hearing the Hebrew alphabet over
and over, this is a great program for that purpose.
Features:
#1) Hebrew letter, vowel and vocabulary recognition
#2) Interactive Tutorial
#3) Original lyrics and sound
#4) CD includes FIVE languages: Hebrew, English Ashkenaz, English
Sephardic, French and Spanish.
System Requirements: CD Rom Windows/Mac
List Price: $79 Internet Special: $59
HEBREW TUTOR
This program will allow you to learn words in the Hebrew
language. It has a beginning, intermediate and advanced level. For
each level and skill, you are given a Hebrew word and a multiple
choice selection. The program will indicate if you selected the
correct word. This is a great way to build your vocabulary and keep
sharp on learning and comprehending words in Hebrew.
Features:
#1) Over one thousand key words
#2) Most commonly used Hebrew words
#3) Gives correct Hebrew pronunciation of each word
#4) Corrects your mistakes and tracks your progress
#5) Helps you build confidence in learning the Hebrew language
System Requirements: Windows 3.1 or Windows 95
List Price: $69 Internet Special: $49
HEBREW WORD QUEST
This program consists of you being given a Hebrew
word list and you are required to find each Hebrew word in a word find
puzzle. This is another fun way to learn Hebrew vocabulary. This would
be a fun and challenging way for children to learn Hebrew words. You
can even create your own word lists!
This program comes with another fun game similiar to
TETRIS. In this game, you are challenged to make words in Hebrew and
given points for doing so. This game is called: HEBREW WORD MASTER.
Features of Hebrew WordQuest:
#1) Word search program
#2) Unlimited puzzles
#3) Create your own word lists
#4) Keeps track of your score
Features of Hebrew Word Master:
#1) Tetris like action
#2) Quick moving game
#3) Builds your vocabulary as you make each word
#4) Keeps track of your score
System Requirements: Windows 3.1 or Windows 95
List Price: $59 Internet Special: $39
TORAH CODES
If you like searching for hidden meanings in the Torah
through Torah codes, this is a must program. You need to know and
understand Hebrew to use this program.
Features:
#1) Full text of Torah in original Hebrew
#2) Includes two Hebrew graphic fonts
#3) Search for any word or phrase
#4) On-Screen Hebrew Keyboard
#5) Searches full words or root words
#6) Interval letter searching
#7) Begin word and end word counting
#8) Letter and word counting
#9) Multiple command searches
#10) Export to any Hebrew word processor or print results directly
from the program
System Requirements: Dos/Windows/Mac
List Price: $119 Internet Special: $79
FAMILY BIBLE RHYMES
This would be an OUTSTANDING program for home schoolers who
would like to teach the Bible from the creation story through the
Exodus to smaller children. This program is for ages 6-12. This
program contains over 70 Bible stories with stunning graphics and
animation that makes each Bible story come to life. Even if you do not
home school, if you would like to teach your children the Bible
stories from the creation through the exodus from Egypt to the
Promised Land, this program will allow your children to learn and
comprehend these Bible stories in an easy and simplistic way complete
with great graphics and animation.
System Requirements: CD-ROM Windows/Mac
List Price: $59 Internet Special: $39
MITZVAH MAN !!!!
Now, this is an addicting game! When I first began to play
this game, I stayed up until 3 A.M !!! If you are familiar with
PAC-MAN and like PAC-MAN, you will LOVE Mitzvah man. There are five
Torah categories and by correctly answering questions from these five
categories, you will build points and be able to "eat" the enemy who
is trying to "zap" you. The five categories are:
#1) Shabbat
#2) Blessing and Prayers
#3) Ethics
#4) Rabbinical Laws
#5) Kashrut
System Requirements: DOS/ Windows 3.1 and 95
List Price: $59 Internet Special: $39
BAR ILLAN BAR MITZVAH EDITION
You need to have a good working knowledge of Hebrew
to use and benefit from this program. This program contains the text
and Torah commentary of Rashi as well as the following:
#1) Niveim and Rashi
#2) Kisuvim and Rashi
#3) Gematria System
#4) Onkelos
#5) Ramban
#6) Ralbag
#7) Adak
#8) Midrash Rabba
#9) Talmud Bavli and Rashi
#10) Kitzur Shulchan Aruch
System Requirements: CD-ROM / Windows
List Price: $99 Internet Special: $69
OLD TESTAMENT FOR MAC
If you have a MAC, then this is the study program for the
OT that you need! It contains the following:
#1) Hebrew and English Concordance
#2) Linear English translation next to the original Hebrew text
#3) Built in Multi-Lingual word processor
#4) Hypertext Voice note and Music Recorder
#5) Hypertext everything to the Bible Text
#6) Full color Bible Graphics
#7) Archive of pictures, maps and Charts and much more
System Requirements: CD-ROM MAC/IBM
List Price: $139 Internet Special: $89
If you would like to order any of these products, you can
call Torah Educational Software toll-free 1-800-925-6853
They take Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card and American
Express.
Once again, I would like to thank the President of Torah
Education Software, Emanuel, for his kindness and courtesy in allowing
me to review these Software products for the benefit of the members in
our Network. We now have over 1,000 members from 49 states in the USA and
over 30 foreign countries. The interest in the Jewish Roots of Christianity
is
world-wide and Hebrew Hebraic Heritage Ministries in co-operation with
Torah Educational Software is pleased to let you know of Jewish
Software Resource materials that will aid you in your studies. When
you order any of these products, be sure to tell Torah Education
Software that you found out about their Software through Hebraic
Heritage Ministries.
May these products be a blessing to you!
Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l
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