Talmud vol. 17: The Steinsaltz Edition: Tractate Sanhedrin, Part III
The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition makes Judaism's great compendium of tradition, law, and legend accessible in modern English for the first time.          Accepted as the authoritative basis for all subsequent codifications of Jewish law and practice, the multivolume Babylonian Talmud has been studied constantly by Jewish communities throughout the world since its completion in the sixth century.          Yet, for most people, the complexity of the Talmud's Hebrew and Aramaic text is an impenetrable barrier to its riches. Furthermore, the Talmud's unique system of logic and argumentation often baffles even experienced readers.          The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition makes it possible at last for everyone to read the Talmud, because it's more than just a translation. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz becomes your personal instructor, guiding you through the intricate paths of Talmudic logic and thought. His extensive introductions and commentaries clarify the text by providing all the background information needed to follow it, while his illustrated marginal notes supply fascinating insight into daily life in Talmudic times.         Tractate Sanhedrin, Part III, covers        chapters four through six of the tractate, and continues the discussion of judicial   procedures in civil and criminal cases. It          addresses the rules governing the cross-    examination of witnesses and explores cases in which witnesses contradict one another. Also addressed are cases in which one may act in self-defense. It examines instances in which a judge must compensate a claimant for his own mistakes, and describes the seating arrangement of the Sanhedrin. Several well-known and beloved aggadic passages also appear in this section.