Harry M. Orlinsky's *Notes on the New Translation of the Torah* reveals a dramatic shift in Jewish biblical translation, as the 1962 Jewish Publication Society version abandoned word-for-word literalism in favor of idiomatic English that captures Hebrew's semantic complexity. The NJV committee's revolutionary approach produced theologically significant departures from familiar renditions, exemplified by Genesis 1:1's transformation from creation *ex nihilo* to "When God began to create." Rather than emphasizing comparative Semitic philology, the translation draws heavily on medieval and early modern Jewish exegetes, employing a "vertical approach" that prioritizes Hebrew linguistic continuity. Many of the NJV's seemingly innovative interpretations were actually anticipated by earlier Jewish commentators, while various "traditional" elements in previous translations prove to be relatively recent innovations. Though the new methodology achieves greater accuracy and contemporary accessibility, it occasionally obscures intentional biblical wordplay and exhibits inconsistencies in rendering. The translation ultimately raises fundamental questions about balancing scholarly precision with pedagogical and exegetical needs of Jewish audiences.