The Torah, Talmud and other Jewish Writings

The greatest mistake that I have made in my life was to wait until the age of sixty to study the holy teachings of my faith Judaism, passionately. I am blessed to live in Haifa, Israel, in the land where our ancestors gave us the greatest gift possible, that of our spirituality. The purpose of this post is to educate, not promote debates or controversy. I am writing this from my own personal perspective as a fervent believer in the Jewish religion.

The concept of one G-d has its roots in the land of Canaan. The three major monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam trace their roots back to this wonderful nation. Haifa, "The City of Peaceful Co-existence" is a incredible place in which to study Judaism and the faiths of others. Jews, Christians, Muslims and others live together fairly well in the final resting place of Elijah The Prophet and world center of The Baha'i.

I have studied the Talmud at a Kollel or adult Orthodox study program. My Masorti or conservative congregation offers classes in the Kaballah, The Talmud, and the Old Testament. You will see me once or twice a week at our local Chabad center where I learn the Torah. I have studied the New Testament with Christian friends to better understand and respect my neighbors. I believe that my love for my own faith is strengthened by learning about the beliefs of others. Judaism calls for us to respect and reach out to our neighbors. Hillel, when asked by a prospective convert to Judaism to teach him the whole Torah while he stood on one leg, replied: 'That which is hateful unto you do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole of the Torah, the rest is commentary. Go forth and study.'

I and my family before me are lifelong followers of the Masorti or conservative stream of Judaism. It represents a “third” way; not secular Judaism; not ultra-Orthodoxy; but a Jewish life that integrates secular beliefs - Halakhah with inclusion and egalitarianism. Masorti (tradition) followers recognize the realities of today’s world. There are more than two million of us most of whom are found in The United States.

The Torah is the first part of the most holy scripture of Judaism - the Tanach or Old Testament, where (in Judaism) the law of God as revealed to Moses is recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures (the Pentateuch). The five books of the Torah start with the world's beginnings and end as the Jewish people prepare to enter the land of Israel.

The Tanach or Old Testament consists of three divisions--the Torah and the Prophets and the Writings.The name Tanakh is an acronym of the first Hebrew letter of each of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: Torah ("Teaching", also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi'im ("Prophets") and Ketuvim ("Writings")—hence TaNaKh.

The Oral Torah consists of the traditional interpretations and amplifications handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation and now embodied in the Talmud and Midrash. They are written compilations of Jewish teachings, laws, and legal case studies. The Torah contains narratives, statements of law, and statements of ethics. Collectively these laws, usually called biblical law or commandments, are sometimes referred to as the Law of Moses. These laws were the first part of the Torah. I am amazed at the complexity of depth of knowledge in the Talmud. It is possible to review and discuss one paragraph of the great body of knowledge for hours or yes, even days! For the sages of the Mishnah and Talmud, and for their successors today, the study of Torah was not merely a means to learn the contents of God's revelation, but an end in itself. 'We study to learn' is a common phrase used to describe this concept in Judaism. Traditional Judaism is a knowledge based faith.

The concept of One G-D was given to Moses and the Jewish people. Followers of Judaism were chosen to promote and protect the teachings and values of our faith. Humble servants of the universal creator are expected to follow the values of the Torah in all aspects of our lives. Moses was known for his humility. Jews believe that he was the most humble of all people. He was blessed to receive the holy laws due to his kind and gentle spirit. Moses is referred to by the Hebrew word Anav or meek. The word signifies complete gentleness and devotion to the One G-d, which is the heart of Judaism. My greatest challenge in life is learning to accept the fact that my actions are guided from above.

According to traditional Judaism, all of the laws found in the Torah, both written and oral, were given by G-d to Moses, some of them at Mount Sinai and most of them at the Tabernacle. All the teachings were later compiled and written down by Moses, which resulted in the Torah that we have today. It is believed that the Torah was created prior to the creation of the world, and was used as the blueprint for Creation. Most Modern biblical scholars believe that the written books were a product of the Babylonian exiled period (c.600 BCE) and that it was completed by the Persian period (c.400 BCE). The written compilations were in great part a response to the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple and subsequent exile of the Jewish people from ancient Israel. In the days of the first and second Temples, Judaism was an oral faith centered in ancient Jerusalem. Two thousand years ago Jews were expected to pray in The Temple. According to classical Jewish belief, the Temple acted as the figurative "footstool" of G-D's presence and a Third Temple will be built there in the future. Many of us believe that Israel is the Third Temple.

For thousands of years Jews have been studying texts in pairs or in groups, respectfully debating each other, and learning the stories and legal texts of Judaism. The study of the Torah and other texts in groups is believed to enhance the ability to learn and promote unity. Some people condense what they have learned about a certain subject into a d'var Torah, or a brief sermon, to help share knowledge with others. The 613 mitzvot (laws) direct the Jewish people in their actions of daily life and their beliefs including moral and ethical behavior. The Torah's importance can be seen in its use throughout daily life. Traditional Jews pray three times daily.

Another demonstration the importance of the Torah is seen in the display of the mezuzah.

 

The mezuzah is a small container displayed on the front door of many Jewish homes. It contains a prayer called the Shema which is taken directly from scriptures in the Torah... Shema Yisrael (or Sh'ma Yisrael). "Hear, [O] Israel") are the first two words of a section of the Torah, and are the title (sometimes shortened to simply "Shema") of a prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. The first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one," found in Deuteronomy 6:4 . The Shema is the most important prayer in Judaism. It should be said at least three times daily.

My Talmud classes are particularly interesting to me. I study in an Orthodox Kollel with three English speaking partners and mentors. A Kollel is an institute for Talmud study and the study of other Jewish literature for male adults. None of us is dressed in black or has beards. Yet, the other "students" at the Kollel accept us and warmly assist us at all times. The Rabbi even offered to plan a "Shiduch" or arranged marriage for me!

I also learn Talmud at my Masorti congregation. Our teacher is a women professor at The University of Haifa. Women are in positions of leadership in our movement and some are Rabbis. We study the same Talmud but one could argue that interpretations are more liberal in the Masorti movement than in Orthodox Judaism. We study to learn and I enjoy the classes immensely. Judaism, as in other faiths has different streams and of course different views and thoughts within each. Yes, there can be differences, even tension, between them, but the belief in one universal creator is shared between us. We may study the holy writings from different perspectives but perpetuating study, in my opinion, is far more important than varying interpretations. The Jewish people have returned to our ancient homeland where we can study and celebrate our faith in our ancestral and spiritual center.





.