Q: Why is the Torah called The Law? Does it teach legalism? A: The Torah is called “The Law” simply due to a translation from one language to another. The Tanach (Jewish Hebrew Bible) was written in Hebrew (the holy tongue). The translation goes from the Ivrit (Hebrew) word “Torah” (“teaching”) to the closest word in the Greek “Nomos” and then to the English “Law.” In our Western culture, the word “law” in and of itself promotes the idea of a “legal matter” or “rules.” The Torah was actually a covenant that God made with the people of Israel. It was written in the style of the marriage covenants of that day. The sign of this covenant is the Sabbath. If you have been taught that the Torah is really a legalistic list of do’s and don’ts, does that mean that God is legalistic? Q: The Torah talks [...]
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In Parashat Beshalach we reach the climax of the exodus from the Egyptian exile―the parting of theRed Sea and the song the Children of Israel sang at the sea. HaShem led the people away from the sea, into the desert. Soon, however, the bitter reality of their journey in the wilderness eventually caused the people to complain to Moshe. After t ...
Weekly Sidra: Achrei Mot-Kedoshim Torah Portion: Vayikra / Leviticus 16:1-20:27 Haftorah: Yechezkel / Ezekiel 20:2-20 I am HaShem your God; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God. (Yehez ...
(Bereshit/Genesis 37:19-24) “And they said to one another, “Look! That dreamer is coming! So now let’s come and go kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘a wild beast devoured him.’ Then we shall see what will become of his dreams.” Reuben heard, and rescued him from their hand; he said, ...
Weekly Sidra: Bamidbar (In the Wilderness) Torah Portion: Bamidbar / Numbers 1:1-4:20 Haftorah: Hoshea / Hosea 2:1-2:22 “The number of the people of Israel shall be like that of the sands of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted; and instead of being told, "You are Not-My-People," they shall be ...
Weekly Sidra: Bechukotai (by my decrees) Torah Portion: Vayikra / Leviticus 26:3-27:34 Haftorah: Yermiyahu / Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 “O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, My refuge in a day of trouble, To You nations shall come From the ends of the earth and say: Our fathers inherited utter delusions, Things that are ...
Q: Why is the Torah called The Law? Does it teach legalism? A: The Torah is called The Law simply due to a translation from one language to another. The Tanach was written in Hebrew. The translation goes from the Hebrew word Torah (teaching) to the closest word in the Greek Nomos and then to the English Law. In our Western culture, the word law in ...
And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, the Lord your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers: 13 He will favor you and bless you and multiply you; He will bless the issue of your womb and the produce of your soil, your new grain and wine and oil, the calving of your herd and the l ...
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