The NRSV Bible

It may seem obvious but read the bible! (Or, rather, the sections relevant to your interests, be it the Pentateuch and Exilic Writings for the OT scholar, the later and Deuterocanonical books for the scholar of Hellenic Judaism, or the NT for the NT scholar.) The Book offers a brilliant window into periods of history stretching back millennia, and into experiences of Perfection within various Jewish communities.