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Jun 30, 2014 · Jewish ethics investigates both theoretical and practical questions of what Jews can and should do in the world. It involves weaving together theology, philosophy, and law—the classic triumvirate for religious ethics—as well as lore, history, science, and sociology, among other facets of human knowledge and experience.
- Torah in Five Books
- Torah in 24 Books
- Oral Torah—An Endless Torah
- Integrity of The Oral Torah
- Authorship of The Torah
- When Did Moses Write The Torah?
- Who Wrote The Rest of The Books of The Torah?
- Can People Create More Torah?
- Torah Versus Wisdom
- Is Torah only For Jews?
The definition of the word Torah is literally “instruction,” and when Jews say “Torah,” they’re most likely speaking of the Five Books of Moses, the foundation of all Jewish instruction and guidance. We also call it the Chumash, from the Hebrew chamesh, which means five—just like the not-so-Jewish and somewhat archaic title Pentateuch comes from th...
The Five Books of Moses are actually one section of a collection of works which is also called Torah, but otherwise known as Tanach(תנ״ך). Tanachis an acronym of the words: 1. Torah: Chumash(Five Books of Moses) —as above 2. Nevi’im (Prophets) 3. Ketuvim (Writings, such as Psalms, Lamentations and Proverbs) There is a distinction, however.1 Althoug...
Every work requires knowledge and understanding of its context to make sense of its contents, how much more so one that is meant to convey all instructions necessary for an entire nation and every individual in every situation for perpetuity. That’s why we have “The Oral Torah” (in Hebrew: Torah Sheba’al Peh תורה שבעל פה). And that’s literally endl...
A question commonly asked: How do we know the elders and the rabbis got it right? And how do we know that this oral tradition hasn’t been corrupted over the years? But when you consider that the author of this system is the same as the author of the entire Torah—namely G‑d Himself—the question falls away. As cited above, G‑d instructed us to bring ...
The Jewish tradition is that Moses wrote the Five Books of Moses. You will find allusions to this at several points in the text, and yet more explicitly in Joshua 1:7–8. Sixteen instances in Tanach make reference to “the Torah of Moses.” Yet we can’t really call Moses the author. Truly, no prophet is his own author. Some, like David, were able to s...
When did Moses write all this? The Talmud provides two opinions on this topic as well. One is that he wrote separate scrolls as matters unfolded over the forty year period in the wilderness, and only sewed them together at the end of his life. The other is that he wrote all five books at the end of his life.28 Up until the late 17th century, the di...
What about the remaining books of the Tanach that are also called Torah? Here is a list of their authors according to the Talmud:34 1. Joshua: Joshua, completed by Pinchas. 2. Judges and Ruth: Samuel 3. Samuel: Samuel, completed by Gad the Seer and Nathan the Prophet. 4. Psalms: David, collecting his own songs as well as those of ten elders: Adam, ...
We said above that Torah is constantly being created by its students. But how could this be, if the Torah is a divine instruction? A simple answer is that the Torah provides general principles, and it is up to us to figure out how those principles apply in new situations as they arise. For example, as technology advances, questions arise. The Torah...
Torah, it seems, is distinct from what we generally call wisdom. Even the term “divine wisdom” is insufficient. Our universe, after all, is composed of divine wisdom—yet Torah is more than the universe. Our environment, our bodies, and even the psyche with which we observe all of these, all are of unfathomable design. “How wondrous are Your works, ...
Although Torah is a covenant between G‑d and the Jewish people, it also contains wisdom and guidance for every person, Jewish or otherwise. Torah does not come to erase distinctions, but rather to create harmony between individuals and between nations in a time foretold by the prophets. Torah is meant to affect the entire world, to elevate the dign...
- Tzvi Freeman
Instead, Judaism's principles of faith remains debated by the rabbis based on their understanding of the sacred writings, laws, and traditions, which collectively shape its theological and ethical framework. The most accepted version in extent is the opinion of Maimonides.
the ethics of Hermann Cohen, Martin Buber, and Franz Rosenzweig (Crane's essay covers all three in just over ten pages) and on family ethics and the ethics of American Jewish communal life.
Jews are required to provide their children with a full education in Torah, and to teach them a trade. Adults must study Torah every day, at least something every morning and something every night. Learn more about the importance of a Jewish education here
In the modern era, Jewish thinkers have confronted the new conditions of Jewish life: an increasingly secular world, the aftermath of the Holocaust, and the birth of the State of Israel. Throughout history, Jewish thinkers have developed their theologies in dialogue with the cultures around them.
Uttering one of the names of God is used to accomplish everything from blessing the nation of Israel to destroying the walls of Jericho. Though Jewish magical practices have varied through history, they have always existed as a parallel force to normative Jewish ritual and belief. Talmud.
