Mistabra Press מסתברא

Sefarim that stand to reason.

Classic works of Jewish thought from Sefarad and Ashkenaz, newly translated into clear English, with the Hebrew on the facing page.

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מסתברא
Mistabra
Aramaic. “It stands to reason.” The Gemara’s word for a position that holds up under questioning.
Rav Saadia Gaon Rabbenu Bachya Ibn Ezra Rambam Rashbam Ralbag R. Moshe Shmuel Glasner R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk

The first list

In preparation. Publication dates will be announced here.

See all eight titles
Bavel אמונות ודעות Rav Saadia Gaon
Emunot ve-Deot Rav Saadia Gaon · Baghdad, 933
Sefarad שמונה פרקים Rambam
Shemonah Perakim Rambam · Egypt, 12th century
Ashkenaz פירוש התורה Rashbam
Commentary on the Torah Rashbam · Northern France, 12th century
Ashkenaz דור רביעי R. Moshe Shmuel Glasner
Dor Revi’i: The Introduction R. Moshe Shmuel Glasner · Klausenburg, 1921
Teshuva בדין גילוח הזקן במכונת גילוח R. Yitzḥak Berdugo
New in Teshuvot

On Shaving the Beard with an Electric Shaver

Is an electric shaver a razor or a pair of scissors? A responsum by R. Yitzḥak Berdugo, published as a 40-page English book with the Hebrew sources beside the translation.

Read the teshuva Free PDF download

What we publish

Classics in clear English

The works that shaped Jewish thought, translated so a reader can follow the argument without a dictionary of medieval philosophy.

The original on the facing page

Hebrew on the right, English on the left. Learn from the source, and check our translation against it line by line.

Sefarad and Ashkenaz on one shelf

Rav Saadia next to Rashbam, the Rambam next to R. Meir Simcha. Both traditions reasoned their way through Torah, and we publish both.

שמע האמת ממי שאמרה

Accept the truth from whoever says it.

Rambam, introduction to Shemonah Perakim. It is the rule we choose books by.

Hear when the first volume is ready.

One email per new book. Nothing else.