He also provided his own commentaries on the often labyrinthine text, added biographies of the various rabbinical commentators and offered explanations of Talmudic concepts. His work, he said, was intended to accommodate even beginners with “the lowest level of knowledge.”

“My idea was that I’m trying to substitute a book for a living teacher,” he said in a 2005 interview with The New York Times.

"Adin Steinsaltz, 83, Dies; Created Epic Translation of Talmud"