The Importance of Torah to the Jews

[Tanakh Keeper]

Torah has kept us together as a people. We have always been a minority. Throughout history, Jews have been exiled, persecuted, and decimated. Yet not only have we survived, but we’ve retained our heritage. There are no other such examples in world history. Our secret is the Torah, the blueprint of the universe.

According to Midrash (Beraishis Rabbah, 8), Torah was created 2,000 years before the universe was created. The Torah was G-d’s blueprint to build the universe. We were created to enable us to observe or to transgress the Commandments. For example, we have parents to enable us to honor them and we have hands to enable us to give to charity. We have mouths so that we can pray, eat Matzah on Passover night, and to forbear from gossip.

Torah also gives holiness. The act of studying Torah draws us closer to G-d. Our rabbis teach that "The Torah was given to purify mankind" (Midrash Beraishis Rabbah 44:1). Each part of the Torah elevates and purifies something else. Thus the more we study, the more we elevate and purify the world. G-d’s intention is that we be engrossed in the study of Torah so that our souls get strengthened and united with the essence of the spirituality and holiness of the Source of the Torah. As Torah says, "...speak of them: when you sit at home, when you travel, when you get ready for sleep, and when you wake up" (Deuteronomy 6:7). G-d told the Prophet Joshua: "This Book of the Torah must not depart your mouth. You must study it day and night..." (Joshua 1:8). Therefore, G-d gave Israel the Torah of truth as a gift, and we will never forget the Torah, so that our souls and bodies will be bound to the Commandments of the Torah.

Torah is G-d instructions on how to elevate our lives and avoid sin. G-d tells us that each of us can make choices to avoid the evil inclination. 'If you do good, you will be more powerful. If you do not do good, sin awaits crouching at the door; it desires to control you, but you can overpower it' (Genesis 4:7). "Our rabbis teach that as long as you are engrossed in the Torah, you will not be controlled by the Evil Inclination. It is the Torah that makes it possible for us to fulfill G-d’s will.

King David describes the Torah eloquently in Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is faithful, making the simple one wise. The orders of the Lord are upright, causing the heart to rejoice; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, existing forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, altogether just. They are to be desired more than gold, yea more than much fine gold, and are sweeter than honey and drippings of honeycombs.

[footwasher]

Its not that simple. How does one observe Torah correctly? For example, how does one act rightly here:

Can Jews save non Jews on a Sabbath

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/fai...-times-ca.html

Quote
I never heard Rabbi Soloveitchik say that applying darchei shalom to save the life of a non-Jew on the Sabbath depends on intention. Prof. Yaakov Blidstein, who is a talmid and a reliable source, has written "that although Rabbi Solveitchik did not hesitate to rule that as a practical matter one is obligated to save the life of a non-Jew on the Sabbath, he acknowledged his moral unease with the theoretical prohibition."

[shunyadragon]

Torah has kept us together as a people. We have always been a minority. Throughout history, Jews have been exiled, persecuted, and decimated. Yet not only have we survived, but we’ve retained our heritage. There are no other such examples in world history. Our secret is the Torah, the blueprint of the universe.

According to Midrash (Beraishis Rabbah, 8), Torah was created 2,000 years before the universe was created. The Torah was G-d’s blueprint to build the universe. We were created to enable us to observe or to transgress the Commandments. For example, we have parents to enable us to honor them and we have hands to enable us to give to charity. We have mouths so that we can pray, eat Matzah on Passover night, and to forbear from gossip.

Torah also gives holiness. The act of studying Torah draws us closer to G-d. Our rabbis teach that "The Torah was given to purify mankind" (Midrash Beraishis Rabbah 44:1). Each part of the Torah elevates and purifies something else. Thus the more we study, the more we elevate and purify the world. G-d’s intention is that we be engrossed in the study of Torah so that our souls get strengthened and united with the essence of the spirituality and holiness of the Source of the Torah. As Torah says, "...speak of them: when you sit at home, when you travel, when you get ready for sleep, and when you wake up" (Deuteronomy 6:7). G-d told the Prophet Joshua: "This Book of the Torah must not depart your mouth. You must study it day and night..." (Joshua 1:8). Therefore, G-d gave Israel the Torah of truth as a gift, and we will never forget the Torah, so that our souls and bodies will be bound to the Commandments of the Torah.

Torah is G-d instructions on how to elevate our lives and avoid sin. G-d tells us that each of us can make choices to avoid the evil inclination. 'If you do good, you will be more powerful. If you do not do good, sin awaits crouching at the door; it desires to control you, but you can overpower it' (Genesis 4:7). "Our rabbis teach that as long as you are engrossed in the Torah, you will not be controlled by the Evil Inclination. It is the Torah that makes it possible for us to fulfill G-d’s will.

King David describes the Torah eloquently in Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is faithful, making the simple one wise. The orders of the Lord are upright, causing the heart to rejoice; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, existing forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, altogether just. They are to be desired more than gold, yea more than much fine gold, and are sweeter than honey and drippings of honeycombs.

This sort of a correct idealistic view of the Torah in Judaism today. Yes, the scholars still study the Torah, but today in general midrash and tradition represents a more important meaning in the lives of most Jews. The writings of the Torah are more for scholars and selective readings at services and holy days

I have asked questions on specific texts in the torah on this forum and others and i have been met with only silence from Jews concerning how they are understood today.

[Tanakh Keeper]

This sort of a correct idealistic view of the Torah in Judaism today. Yes, the scholars still study the Torah, but today in general midrash and tradition represents a more important meaning in the lives of most Jews. The writings of the Torah are more for scholars and selective readings at services and holy days

I have asked questions on specific texts in the torah on this forum and others and i have been met with only silence from Jews concerning how they are understood today.

Incorrect. All five books of Moses are read in synagogue aloud throughout the year. This practice has been going on for over 2,000 years and unto the present day. It is prophets in which only selective readings are done in services.

I have answered all specific questions that I've seen. Sylvious always chimes in as well if you want to read his unique non-Judaism spin on things.

[sylvius]

Our secret is the Torah, the blueprint of the universe.

According to Midrash (Beraishis Rabbah, 8), Torah was created 2,000 years before the universe was created. The Torah was G-d’s blueprint to build the universe.

I didn't know you did subscribe to that.

http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-...nning-1.391264

Another interpretation is that amon is a workman (uman ). The Torah declares: "I was the working tool of the Holy One, Blessed be He." In human practice, when a mortal king builds a palace, he builds it not with his own skills, but with those of an architect. Moreover, the architect does not build it out of his head, but employs plans and diagrams to know how to arrange the chambers and the wicket doors. Thus God consulted the Torah and created the world, while the Torah declares, "In the beginning God created" (Genesis 1:1 ), "beginning" referring to the Torah, as in the verse, "The Lord made me as the beginning of His way" (Prov. 8:22 ). (Bereisheet Rabbah 1:1, from the translation by Rabbi H. Freedman and Maurice Simon ).

[footwasher]

But its a simple blueprint:



Quote
Now in the Jewish tradition, the moral law is often equated with the Torah of Moses, that is, the 613 specific mitzvot, mishpatim, and chukkim that are found in the collective writings of Moses. In the rabbinical tradition, these various commandments, judgments, and decrees are further supplemented and defined by the "Oral Law," which is likewise considered binding on the observant Jew. In fact, in some Orthodox traditions of Judaism, the claim goes even further, in that G-d Himself is bound to the Torah of Moses in a way that an engineer is bound to the finished blueprints of an architect. .............

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/ar.../t-148556.html