Question's about Jews

  • Thread starter Thread starter flower_lady
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
F

flower_lady

Guest
What do Jews believe about the afterlife, and do they still use the Torah?
Thank you. Brenda
 
Torah (which is the first five books of the bible); the balance of what Catholics consider the Old Testament (excluding the 7 DC books, however, - although those are studied as non-canonical by many Jews) and the Talmud (oral law and commentary thereon).

Some Orthodox Jews spend more time studying the Talmud than the Torah (although the Talmud itself is in part a study of Torah).

As to the after-life, there are varying views on that in the Talmud, and even more so in the more mystical disciplines within Judaism (e.g, the Zoaha - Kaballah).

Blessings,

Brian
 
Robbinson said:
Torah (which is the first five books of the bible); the balance of what Catholics consider the Old Testament (excluding the 7 DC books, however, - although those are studied as non-canonical by many Jews) and the Talmud (oral law and commentary thereon).

Some Orthodox Jews spend more time studying the Talmud than the Torah (although the Talmud itself is in part a study of Torah).

As to the after-life, there are varying views on that in the Talmud, and even more so in the more mystical disciplines within Judaism (e.g, the Zoaha - Kaballah).

Blessings,

Brian
Click to expand...
The Talmud basically spells out the details which are often omitted or unclear in the Torah and applies them to modern life. The study of Talmud is used to better interpret the truer meaning(s) of complex and, at times, elliptical passages in the Torah. Nothing in the Talmud can be justified if it is contrary to the Torah although the Talmud is laden with differing views. For certain Jews, mainly some who are more Orthodox, the Kabbalah is also a means used to more profoundly understand and interpret ideas found in the Torah. However, the study of Kabbalah, in particular the Zohar, is not binding on any Jew.
 
meltzerboy said:
The Talmud basically spells out the details which are often omitted or unclear in the Torah and applies them to modern life. The study of Talmud is used to better interpret the truer meaning(s) of complex and, at times, elliptical passages in the Torah. Nothing in the Talmud can be justified if it is contrary to the Torah although the Talmud is laden with differing views. For certain Jews, mainly some who are more Orthodox, the Kabbalah is also a means used to more profoundly understand and interpret ideas found in the Torah. However, the study of Kabbalah, in particular the Zohar, is not binding on any Jew.
Click to expand...
Thanks Meltzerboy - re: the potential for conflict between the Torah and the Talmud, I believe there is actually a teaching in the Talmud that states if there is a conflict, the Talmud controls (kind of backwards 🙂 some might say) - but acknowledges there could be conflict. There is great wisdom on the Talmud but it does in places stray quite a bit from what is actually written in the Torah. In fact, the Torah itself suggests there is not an “oral law” (stating that moses wrote down all that G_d_ had told him).

Blessings,

Brian
 
meltzerboy said:
Yes, the Torah, the Word that existed in the mind of G-d before His creation of the universe.
Click to expand...
For us, a continuous argument about what it means to live ethical monotheism, to live a ‘good life’.
 
Robbinson said:
Thanks Meltzerboy - re: the potential for conflict between the Torah and the Talmud, I believe there is actually a teaching in the Talmud that states if there is a conflict, the Talmud controls (kind of backwards 🙂 some might say) - but acknowledges there could be conflict.
Click to expand...
Well, there is the tradition of ‘God gave us Torah, it’s up to us to get on with it’ - the Rabbi Eliezer story as exemplar.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top