Field of Sacred Apples....

B"H

I. Torah and Tanakh

1. Chumash (Five Books of Moses) – With classic commentaries: Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra, Sforno, etc.

2. Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) – Complete, ideally with Mikraot Gedolot or an accurate translation and commentary (e.g., ArtScroll, Koren).

3. Targum Onkelos – The classic Aramaic translation of the Chumash.

II. Oral Torah

4. Mishnah – With commentary (e.g., Kehati, ArtScroll, or Hebrew with Bartenura).

5. Talmud Bavli – Full set or tractates of interest; ArtScroll and Steinsaltz offer translations.

6. Talmud Yerushalmi – For more advanced learners.

7. Midrash – Especially Midrash Rabbah on the Torah and Midrash Tanchuma.

III. Halacha (Jewish Law)

8. Mishneh Torah by Rambam – The most systematic halachic code.

9. Shulchan Aruch with Rema – Standard code for Sephardim and Ashkenazim.

10. Sefer HaMitzvot – Rambam’s enumeration of the 613 mitzvot.

11. Sefer HaChinuch – Mitzvot in order of the Torah portions with explanations.

IV. Jewish Philosophy and Ethics

14. Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed) – By Rambam.

15. Chovot HaLevavot (Duties of the Heart) – By Rabbeinu Bachya.

16. Mesilat Yesharim (Path of the Just) – By Ramchal.

17. Kuzari – By Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi.

18. Shaarei Teshuvah – By Rabbeinu Yonah.

19. Derech Hashem – Ramchal’s philosophical framework of Jewish thought.

V. Kabbalah and Hasidut

20. Zohar – Aramaic mystical commentary on the Torah (with translation if needed).

21. Sefer Yetzirah – One of the earliest Kabbalistic texts.

22. Likutei Moharan – Teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.

23. Nefesh HaChaim – Lithuanian Kabbalistic-philosophical text by R’ Chaim of Volozhin.

VI. Liturgy and Prayer

24. Siddur (Prayer Book) – Nusach Ashkenaz, Sfard, or Edot HaMizrach.

25. Machzorim for the Holidays – Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Sukkot, Shavuot.

26. Tehillim (Psalms) – With commentary.

27. Perek Shirah and Tikkun HaKlali – For personal and poetic spirituality.

VII. Jewish History and Responsa

28. Seder HaDorot – Chronological history of the Jewish people.

29. Igrot Moshe, Yabia Omer, Yalkut Yosef, or similar – Responsa of modern poskim.

30. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Sephardic Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, and Ben Ish Chai – A concise guide to daily practice.

31. Aruch HaShulchan or Mishnah Berurah – For deeper halachic study.

32. Books on Holocaust, Zionism, and Modern Israel

VIII. Recommended Tools

33. Hebrew-English Dictionary – For navigating texts.

34. Jastrow Dictionary – For Talmudic Aramaic.

35. Concordance of Tanakh – For word studies.

36. Halachic calendars and z’manim charts – For practice.