Just a follow up-
Do Orhodox Jews consider conservative and reform to be valid? Since they may not keep kosher and do service strictly in Hebrew etc?
Is the Talmud and or Midrash as binding as as authorative as scripture? For instance, in Catholicism, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are equal in authority.
In other words, are the Rabbis’ commentaries considered the “official interpretation” of scripture?
Why do Jews call synagogues “temple”? Doesn’t that degrade the value of the actual temple that once was?
What is the concept of sacrifice since there is no longer animal sacrifice?
Do most Jews want to rebuild the Temple?
These are things I’ve often wondered about. Thanks.
ps. happy new year!
I would say that the Talmud is considered as important as Torah. That the Mishna would be considered as sacred as the Torah, and that the Gemara is considered as important, but not as “sacred” as it is the expression of rabbis, not God. My own opinion is that the Talmud was a human endeavor to expound on the laws of Torah and to make them relevant for each generation.
By and large, rabbinical interperation of the Scripture is how Jews determine how to follow Torah. Each community looks to its rabbi for how to do this.
I don’t call synagouge “temple” for the very reason you mentioned. Usually, but not always, jews who use the word “temple” are secular or reform. Reform use temple because the consder all their meeting places to be the equilavant of the Temple. I happen to use the word “shul” which is a yiddish word for “school”, because it underscores the synagouge’s role as a place of study. Synagouge is a greek translation of the hebrew word for the beit k’nesset (“place of assembly”).
Most orthodox want the Temple rebuilt and believe sacrifices will continue at that time. Some Jews believe that the Temple need only be rebuilt “metaphoricaly”. Abraham Joshua Heschel, a famous Jewish scholar (and social activist) describes our sabbath as a “Temple in Time”.
As far as sacrifices go, I’ll give you a historical explanation: Pagans were big on animal sacrifices, and it was something jews were used to doing. In order to ensure that they would not slip back to pagan ways, Hashem allowed sacrifices to continue but He limited them to specific times at a specific place, and in so doing, strenghtened monotheistic beliefs rather than pagan beliefs. Sacrifices became part of worshiping the One God. But even when they were in place, prayer, good deeds, and actions were preferred over sacrifices. (this is a whole other subject).
btw, I’m sure you have heard the expression, 2 Jews, 3 opinions. Don’t be surprised if other jews say something different about some of this.
understood. Maybe I was formulating the question poorly, but when I wrote the question I was thinking of intercessory prayer - one that is addressed to a righteous person having in mind that the respective person will intercede on your behalf to God.