Kabbalah, Torah, Talmud

[David_F_1]

hi david. do the men still have to be around 40 years old to begin study? peace

Well, I’m Reform, so I can only say it would depend on the orthodox community. However, I do know that the Hassidic movement (~18th century Poland) mainstreamed the study of Kabbalistic ideas and practices, along with dancing and a more exhuberant form of worship. The more traditional Jews of the time considered this heretical, but hassidism became very popular and most of the visibly orthodox (i.e. black hat) Jews you see today are hassidic and use a lot of Kabbalistic ideas in their worship and teaching.

 

[benidict]

Well, I’m Reform, so I can only say it would depend on the orthodox community. However, I do know that the Hassidic movement (~18th century Poland) mainstreamed the study of Kabbalistic ideas and practices, along with dancing and a more exhuberant form of worship. The more traditional Jews of the time considered this heretical, but hassidism became very popular and most of the visibly orthodox (i.e. black hat) Jews you see today are hassidic and use a lot of Kabbalistic ideas in their worship and teaching.

thank you very much david. i have had the pleasure of sitting in on a Jewish Torah study. it was fascinating. its alot more indepth than people realize. it was a reform rabbi. we were studying the burning bush, and the Lord revealing his name to moses. i did not know you could get so many different perspectives from just a few verses. i would encourage anyone to do this. also i study the rabbinic sages. i have found they actually help me to understand my own faith better. after all, our faith comes from your people. my priest encourages this. he has Jewish blood in him as well. Peace to you and yours, and the Lords blessings on your people

 

[Lapell]

thank you very much david. i have had the pleasure of sitting in on a Jewish Torah study. it was fascinating. its alot more indepth than people realize. it was a reform rabbi. we were studying the burning bush, and the Lord revealing his name to moses. i did not know you could get so many different perspectives from just a few verses. i would encourage anyone to do this. also i study the rabbinic sages. i have found they actually help me to understand my own faith better. after all, our faith comes from your people. my priest encourages this. he has Jewish blood in him as well. Peace to you and yours, and the Lords blessings on your people

Reading stories about the Hassidic Sages is quite something interesting, too. I have some told by Elie Wiesel, and some by another Jewish writer, I don’t right now remember which…

 

[Contarini]

Reading stories about the Hassidic Sages is quite something interesting, too. I have some told by Elie Wiesel, and some by another Jewish writer, I don’t right now remember which…

Martin Buber is the author of perhaps the most famous such collection. His approach is neither strictly historical/scholarly nor traditionally Hasidic, but the stories are certainly fascinating.

Edwin

 

[GerardMajella]

I’d like to throw in my 2 cents on this discussion if I may…

Let’s start with the Torah. The Torah is the first 5 books of the Bible, comprised of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers. If you are interested in reading the Torah from a Jewish perspective, pick up a copy of Art Scroll’s Stone Edition of the Chumash. The commentary is excellent.

The Torah should not be confused with the Tanakh, which is the entire Old Testament, including the Torah – not just the first 5 books of the Bible. Art Scroll, incidentally, also carries a Stone Edition of the Tanakh.

The Talmud in the English-Hebrew version from Art Scroll is some 72 volumes. The Talmud is rabbinic commentary on the Torah, and is a fascinating read. It contains arguments, discussions, and the finer parts of Old Testament Law. Please also note that many anti-semitic writers, especially from pro-Nazi web sites, make blatantly false accusations about the contents of the Talmud. It is a highly complex piece of work, and would require the direction of an erudite rabbi to properly understand. In the past, papal authorities have also condemned the Talmud as forbidden reading for Catholics.

The Kabbalah’s most famous work is the Zohar. It is a mystical commentary on the Torah, and is reputed to be dated back some 2000 years ago.

A few more:

The Jewish Siddur. This is the Jewish prayer book that contains all of the Jewish prayers said daily. You’ll be amazed at the similarities between Catholic prayers and the prayers found in the Siddur.

Machzorim: These are the prayer books for the Jewish festivals, such as Passover, Purim, etc.

Tehillim: This is the Jewish Book of Psalms.

 

[Lapell]

Martin Buber is the author of perhaps the most famous such collection. His approach is neither strictly historical/scholarly nor traditionally Hasidic, but the stories are certainly fascinating.

Edwin

That’s it! That’s the one! When it comes to the Hassidic stories, Elie Wiesel pointed out that the names might even be interchangeable.
I love the one where one of Baal Shem Tov’s disciples tried to take note of his master’s words. But the Besht noticed it and said to him: “Beware! I have said one thing, you heard another one, and you’re writing down a third one.” Reminds us of the telephone game…