- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on May 30, 2020 15:12:02 GMT -8
In the 3rd cen CE, when the rabbonim of the sect of the parushim (Pharisees) had pretty much gotten control of Judaism they decided to codify the Oral Tradition (Mishnah) as it was at the time. They were afraid it would be lost in the diaspora. This was a good thing, however once written down it lost its flexibility. Meant to change (by God-granted authority) without contradicting the written Torah in any way, it is what had made Torah applicable to all men in every time and circumstance. Now something else was needed. Enter the Gemarah. This expanded on and even modified Mishnaic rulings as needed. These two books make up the Talmud.
To many Jews, Talmud is of more wieght than Torah because it explains Torah. To some it is equal, and to others it is very important. It has been said that what the New Testament is to Christians, the Talmud is to Jews. One of the main reasons I hear given that Jews cannot accept Messianism is we hold to the NT but eschew Talmud. Many Jewish Messianics do keep Talmudic "law," and this is a major reason some Jewish Messianic synagogues will not accept Gentile converts. We just abhor any more "laws." It's hard enough getting Gentiles to accept the written Torah.
Let me be clear at this point: I am not advocating full Talmudic observance. There was a split mid 2nd cen and the Notsarim sect continued as a separate Judaism from that point. So we are not bound by the Rabbinic rulings that resulted in the making of the Talmudic texts. There are actually 2 main texts, Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalayimi. Talmud Bavli (the Babylonian Talmud) is actually the more complete.
However, as I've said many times it is not wise to just write off everything said in these documents just because we are not bound by them. There are answers in the Oral Law not found in Torah. In fact, many times Torah is ambiguous in its instruction, at best. We are for example commanded to rest and to congregate on Shabbat. Great. What constitutes rest? What kinds of work are prohibited? And what does this congregation look like? How do we observe Shabbat? Some of these answers can be found in the Talmud. They can at least give us an idea what to do.
Some Meshichi just copy contemporary Jewish services while refusing to look at the Talmud. That's a little crazy, since much of their service comes from Talmudic observance. Others copy the Christian services they are used to, all the while decrying things Christian to be pagan. Then there are those of us who are the only Meshiachim in the region. We are left with nothing to guide what we do on Shabbat (or in other circumstances). I am going to suggest that the answers to many of our questions may be found in other Jewish writings, especially in Talmud.
I see so many of our brethren willing to follow what is said in pseudepigraphic works such as Enoch (proven written in the 3rd through 5th centuries), but won't even consider Talmudic writings. Frankly, I see this as an anti-Semitic holdover from whatever we were before. That and the natural resistance to more "laws." But I've said a few times here that if we look at Torah as a few laws, but mostly instructions, then more is better! Laws are impersonal and absolute. We know the law today as cold and impersonal, and this view gets transfered to Torah when we see it as the "Law" laid down by God, our shofet (judge). But He wants relationship, not blind obedience. He could have made us without free will if He just wanted obedience. But like our earthly fathers, He gives us instructions. And like young children, we follow those instructions out of love in the familial relationship. Sadly many of us grow into spiritual teenagers and we rebel. Coming back it is difficult to accept restrictions on those attitudes and ideals we hold dear.
Now, if we can look at the written Torah as "instructions" (which is more an accurate translation), then how should we view the Talmud? It's just clarification of the instructions. All Talmud is commentary, not scripture. I don't agree with all the limited things I know about it. That doesn't mean I find no value there. So this week is a "by" on the parashah. But I thought I'd give you a heads up. After this project of finding the actual commandments in Torah and copying them down so we have a progressive picture of the commandments by category, I may take next year and resort the verses, adding commentary from the Talmud, and possibly other sources. If we are to get an accurate picture, I think this will be necessary. The list is too long to keep posting, but I'll post it one category at a time and put it up for reference and for discussion.
A last thought on the Oral Tradition: I believe there has always been one from the time of Adam. Think about it and we see that Adam would have needed a LOT of instruction in care and maintenance of the flora and fauna in the Garden. Also, I've said many times in answer to the accusations that Judaism copied existing pagan practice, "ha'satan copies God, God does not copy ha'satan." But what is it ha'satan copied? I put it to you he was copying the Oral Tradition! Also how would Noach, Avraham, and others have known how to worship if there was not an Oral Torah to guide them? HaShem gave the Torah to Moshe, and may have instructed him in the Oral Tradition, but the latter existed long before. So do not refuse the Talmud out of hand. Consider it just some extra, helpful instruction; suggestions to make our decissions easier. But like all suggestions, they are not written in stone.
To many Jews, Talmud is of more wieght than Torah because it explains Torah. To some it is equal, and to others it is very important. It has been said that what the New Testament is to Christians, the Talmud is to Jews. One of the main reasons I hear given that Jews cannot accept Messianism is we hold to the NT but eschew Talmud. Many Jewish Messianics do keep Talmudic "law," and this is a major reason some Jewish Messianic synagogues will not accept Gentile converts. We just abhor any more "laws." It's hard enough getting Gentiles to accept the written Torah.
Let me be clear at this point: I am not advocating full Talmudic observance. There was a split mid 2nd cen and the Notsarim sect continued as a separate Judaism from that point. So we are not bound by the Rabbinic rulings that resulted in the making of the Talmudic texts. There are actually 2 main texts, Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalayimi. Talmud Bavli (the Babylonian Talmud) is actually the more complete.
However, as I've said many times it is not wise to just write off everything said in these documents just because we are not bound by them. There are answers in the Oral Law not found in Torah. In fact, many times Torah is ambiguous in its instruction, at best. We are for example commanded to rest and to congregate on Shabbat. Great. What constitutes rest? What kinds of work are prohibited? And what does this congregation look like? How do we observe Shabbat? Some of these answers can be found in the Talmud. They can at least give us an idea what to do.
Some Meshichi just copy contemporary Jewish services while refusing to look at the Talmud. That's a little crazy, since much of their service comes from Talmudic observance. Others copy the Christian services they are used to, all the while decrying things Christian to be pagan. Then there are those of us who are the only Meshiachim in the region. We are left with nothing to guide what we do on Shabbat (or in other circumstances). I am going to suggest that the answers to many of our questions may be found in other Jewish writings, especially in Talmud.
I see so many of our brethren willing to follow what is said in pseudepigraphic works such as Enoch (proven written in the 3rd through 5th centuries), but won't even consider Talmudic writings. Frankly, I see this as an anti-Semitic holdover from whatever we were before. That and the natural resistance to more "laws." But I've said a few times here that if we look at Torah as a few laws, but mostly instructions, then more is better! Laws are impersonal and absolute. We know the law today as cold and impersonal, and this view gets transfered to Torah when we see it as the "Law" laid down by God, our shofet (judge). But He wants relationship, not blind obedience. He could have made us without free will if He just wanted obedience. But like our earthly fathers, He gives us instructions. And like young children, we follow those instructions out of love in the familial relationship. Sadly many of us grow into spiritual teenagers and we rebel. Coming back it is difficult to accept restrictions on those attitudes and ideals we hold dear.
Now, if we can look at the written Torah as "instructions" (which is more an accurate translation), then how should we view the Talmud? It's just clarification of the instructions. All Talmud is commentary, not scripture. I don't agree with all the limited things I know about it. That doesn't mean I find no value there. So this week is a "by" on the parashah. But I thought I'd give you a heads up. After this project of finding the actual commandments in Torah and copying them down so we have a progressive picture of the commandments by category, I may take next year and resort the verses, adding commentary from the Talmud, and possibly other sources. If we are to get an accurate picture, I think this will be necessary. The list is too long to keep posting, but I'll post it one category at a time and put it up for reference and for discussion.
A last thought on the Oral Tradition: I believe there has always been one from the time of Adam. Think about it and we see that Adam would have needed a LOT of instruction in care and maintenance of the flora and fauna in the Garden. Also, I've said many times in answer to the accusations that Judaism copied existing pagan practice, "ha'satan copies God, God does not copy ha'satan." But what is it ha'satan copied? I put it to you he was copying the Oral Tradition! Also how would Noach, Avraham, and others have known how to worship if there was not an Oral Torah to guide them? HaShem gave the Torah to Moshe, and may have instructed him in the Oral Tradition, but the latter existed long before. So do not refuse the Talmud out of hand. Consider it just some extra, helpful instruction; suggestions to make our decissions easier. But like all suggestions, they are not written in stone.
