Our next Talmud class will be held on June 20 at 8:00 p.m.
- Important to Study
- A structure for human life
- A guide to life
- The memory of our people
- The story of how we became jews
- Open to interpretation - as the world changes
- God's Revelation to the Jews or God's 'word'
- To be loved
Do you believe that God gave the Torah to Moses - and every word is 'divine'? This question was discussed by our Rabbis in the Talmud and by every commentator since. In Numbers 15:30-31, it reads, "But the person, be he citizen or stranger, who acts defiantly reviles God; that person shall be cut off from his people. Because he has spurned God's word and violated God's commandment, that person shall be cut off - he bears his guilt"
So because of this text in Numbers, it's very clear to the Rabbis that 'every word' is divine; and NOT following every word is a problem (as the text indicates clearly). But it seems that the particular 'sin' does not matter as much as intent - being defiant and spurning God's word highlights the offense - and at the same time elevates all of the Torah's words as God's word.
However, that is not the end of the story. The Talmudic Rabbis shifted some of the emphasis away from what someone says or believes, i.e. if anyone says some of the Torah is from God but not all of it or says maybe Moses added a few lines (all are examples of 'spurning') to what people do (i.e. not on belief). Talmudic Rabbis Meir, Natan and Nehorai present an example based on 'Torah study' - saying that one must teach Torah if one can and one must study Torah if one can - otherwise, one is 'spurning'. This means if you teach and study Torah, you're not 'spurning' God's word (and implying that what you believe may not matter?)
So for Reform Jews, the first Talmudic interpretation seems a daunting standard! Believing every single word in the Torah is from heaven and then behaving accordingly! All 613 commandments!
However, from the view of Rabbi Meir ("what you do - study Torah"), we can ask the question, "What is the antonym of spurn"? Is it love? Love certainly includes commitment and actionable obligations. Jews treat Torah with love and reverence, like a grandmother to her grandchild with unconditional love. Is studying Torah, immersing oneself in Torah an act of love? Does the 'Revelation at Sinai' continue - as we commit to regularly study Torah? Are we NOT spurning God's words by studying Torah and loving Torah?
Maimonides, 1135-1204, wrote a Commentary of the Mishna Sanhedrin 10 and states one of his 13 Articles of Faith, i.e. #8 "The Torah is from Heaven" - reconfirming what the Talmudic rabbis have said - i.e. every word is from God and anyone who says, believes or acts otherwise is 'spurning' God's word. Maimonides is toeing the company line as it were.
However, Maimonides adds a few sentences that implythat perhaps when you read the text of the Torah, it may not seem quite right or accurate or believable or even "how could God have ever given us these words?" Rather, every letter holds wonders wisdom for one to whom God gives insight. These can never be fully plumbed, for they are wider than the earth and broader than the sea. A person must pray as David did, "Open my eyes, that I may see wonders in Your Torah!" (Psalms 119:8)
So perhaps Maimonides is saying
- Every single word is from God. That is our starting point and is not arguable. It is a given
- We'll never fully understand all of the Torah text and we will always have questions
- We must keep looking for more understanding and insight. We must study