Zev Bitman

Zev (Bill) Bitman studied Tora in the 1960s under Rabbi Shlomo Riskin at Yeshiva University. Throughout the 1970s he attended the Saturday night lectures of Rabbi Dr. Joseph Soloveitchik in Boston. Zev holds graduate degrees in genetics and in information systems. Zev earned his doctorate in engineering management from University of Maryland.

Dr. Bitman has written the 9-volume set: Tora Study Bible, which is a modern American English rendition of The Five Books of Moses and books of the prophets that coveys the meaning of the verses as explained by traditional commentators including Ramban, Rambam, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam, Siforno, and Rashe. Tora Study Bible is appropriate for young readers as well.

Throughout the books, informative headings summarize the content of the upcoming verses. Each of the 613 commandments as defined by Rambam in his magnus opus, Mishne Tora, are indicated by a heading before the verse from which the commandment is derived.

Study notes enhance the understanding of the verses on many levels. First, they state the sources on which the rendition is based. Second, the notes relate the verses to relevant historical, geographical, scientific, and archeological facts that elucidate the meaning and context of the Biblical content. Third, events and concepts are presented in tables with cross-references to all relevant verses.

After retirement from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Bitman devoted time to nature photography and created an extensive portfolio. He organized 250 of his nature images into his how-to book: Successful Nature Photographs And How To Create Them. His nature images have been shown in art galleries in Maryland. Many of his nature images have won the weekly photo contest in the Baltimore Sun paper, and have been selected for inclusion in Smithsonian Zoogoer magazine.

Zev became an Israeli citizen in 2018 and has authored 3 photo tour books on Israel:

Ashkelon: Jewel of the Mediterranean,

Biblical Stones Speak: Photo Tour of Israel National Parks,

Places Israel.