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September 22

Typesetting Talmud

Hello, I need to find a software that can typeset Talmud. A page of Talmud looks roughtly like this. There are three main areas. The middle is the main text, and the blocks surrounding it to the left and the right are different commentaries. Each commentary will quote one or two words of the main text and then give the comment. so the software needs to be able to do two things:

Have two running sets of commentary so that each comment appears on the same page as what it's commenting on (in the same way that e.g. Microsoft Word keeps footnotes ont he same page as the text they link to).
Fit the text into a Talmud-like shape as shown in the image (it isn't precise, there are plenty of different layouts eg File:V12p022a01 Talmud.jpg and File:Test baba kama Page 22.jpg , but it needs to appear in that sort of arrangement and not like ordinary footnoes.

Can anyone recommend?

First: Do you want to typeset the Hebrew (and, apparently, Babylonian Aramaic) text, or a translation with a more widely supported left-to-right script? The latter requirement might rule out quite some candidates. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 20:13, 22 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

[1] finds a bunch of TeX-based possibilities. [2] looks immediately promising. 2601:648:8202:96B0:0:0:0:DDAF (talk) 22:06, 22 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, I can't help with the software, but you may have more success if you use the word "gloss" in your searching. Footnotes, by definition, run at the foot of the page while glosses are typically on the side(s). Matt Deres (talk) 16:21, 24 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

By the way, if you are doing this for a commercial or otherwise funded project, there is a sizeable TeX community where you can find consultancy help including custom macro development and the like (see www.tug.org). At least in math and physics, TeX is still the premier academic typesetting system (no idea about areas like biblical studies). You can also get questions answered at the TeX stack exchange. I happen to know one unemployed TeX person who I can refer you to if you want more extensive help, and there are quite a few other experts out there. 2601:648:8202:96B0:0:0:0:DDAF (talk) 18:48, 24 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]