Rabbinic Literature and Torah

[runningwithit]

Does anyone here read Rabbinic Literature, and if so what do they think? I read authors such as Richard L. Rubinstein and Mordecai Kaplan.

I find these authors inspirational.

Can any Jews, or really anyone, let me know precisely what is Torah?
From my understanding this is the five books of Moses: Deuteronomy
Genesis
Numbers
Leviticus
Exodus

Then what does it mean, the Torah? Is there more than reading Torah, like one participates in Torah by being conscious of the word? :alien:

[YesNo]

I am unfamiliar as well, but looking this up in wikipedia I see that "Torah" means "instruction, teaching" contained in the first five books of the Tanakh plus rabbinic commentaries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah

[BoruchRappaport]

The word Torah, when considered a verb-form being used as a noun, sort of, actually "Hora'ah" would be better, indeed means instruction/teaching. "Torah" as a work, implies the Five Books of Moses, like you write. BTW, according to traditional Jewish thought, the Torah is not really Rabbinic literature per se, rather it is the word of G-d. Rabbinic literature more relates to the commentaries on the Torah, and the Talmud with its commentaries.

The main verb that I would use to describe one's interaction with Torah, is "study", I study Torah, not "read Torah". The second aspect is to fulfill the Torah, to do the commands, which means to refrain from what the Almighty says don't do, and to do what the Almighty says yes to do. This has to do with both the Commands, "Mitzvot", and with the ethics, which are critically important as well.

I mention that according the traditional Jewish thought, regarding the obligation for all of the Mitzvot referred to above, there is a distinction made between someone of the Jewish faith and someone not of the Jewish faith. But that is probably beyond the scope of this forum.

Yours sincerely,
Rabbi Boruch Rappaport
Torah Online
torahonline.co.il

[Pompey Bum]

I mention that according the traditional Jewish thought, regarding the obligation for all of the Mitzvot referred to above, there is a distinction made between someone of the Jewish faith and someone not of the Jewish faith. But that is probably beyond the scope of this forum

Welcome to the site, Rabbi Boruch, and thank you for teaching us. As one from outside the Jewish faith, I would be interested in understanding more about the distinction that you mention regarding Mitzvot obligations.

[BoruchRappaport]

Thank you for your warm welcome.

In brief, according to traditional Jewish thought, the Torah obligates the Jewish people to all of the 613 Mitzvot which are found within, whereas for others their obligation is the 7 Mitzvot of the Noahite code.

When I bounced this question and the direction that I was going to answer off a colleague of mine, he referred me to the wikipedia article:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah

(I am new still, and the script won't let me put in links). Now, I invested a grand total of about 60 seconds to look over the article which can be written and edited by anybody, so I didn't go through it with a fine-toothed comb, but it looks like it was written properly.

Some point out that the 7 laws of Noah, when you look into it, are actually 7 'categories' of commandments, which actually sum up to a much larger number.

RBR
www.TorahOnline.co.il

[Pompey Bum]

Thank you, Rabbi. I am familiar with the Noahide covenant so I understand what you mean. I assume that it's also for non-Jews because it was made between God and "all flesh." In any case, thank you again for teaching us.

[runningwithit]

Interesting... I wonder why Torah is not a precedent in other major religions which were certainly influenced by the Jewish faith - not that I am an expert on other major religions as they may well be.

Regardless, I found interest in Judaisms as an intellectual current but I let up when I couldn't find a healthy outlet to channel this passion into. I like the Jewish thinking and respect for laws, but I come from a family who is not Jewish nor are there any relatives whom were Jewish and furthermore the local temple is really nice but for 25 year old I don't fit the demographics (most people are older, or just married with very young children)

Anyway silly me, I bought these old Jewish text not knowing what they are and not knowing how to read them.""

They are the most beautiful texts. I mean they are deadly beautiful and I think they are the Torah, but I don't know.

They were published in New York in the sixities and there are six in total, some are rather thick, and all are rather large.

Anyway, I went into art and particularly music as a form of self expression. I'm thinking of writing again, as I had one done in the past. My interest Judaism just kinda took the back shelf.

Maybe I will revive it and try to learn the Hebrew like I once had, it's such a mystique , a strange hier in the script.

Anyway thanks for answering the question - Rabbi Boruch Rappaport, I forgot I asked it!

[YesNo]

I didn't realize there was a Noahide covenant, but I guess one could retroactively construct one based on that or even the garden of Eden.

In the link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah), I see incestuous and homosexual relationships included as "Do not engage in incestuous, adulterous or homosexual relationships." Are they actually in the Torah or did they come in later? Why put these with adultery?