samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet) (03/15/85)
> Judaism consists of Torah plus thousands of years of interpretation, > commentary, and tradition... A frequent gripe on this net is orthodoxy's claim to authoritative interpretation of the Torah. Many people are offended by what appears to be an unjustified monopolistic attitude. After all, don't orthodox authorities engage in interpretation? Who say they're right, or that we should accept their interpretation? This a not only a logical and legitimate question, it is a crucial and pivotal one which must be asked by any thinking Jew, orthodox or otherwise. (Of course, logically, another question should come first. No interpretation of the Torah is binding on any of us unless it can be shown that the Torah was indeed given by G*d. Can this be demonstrated? Surprisingly, no one seems to be asking this. Perhaps the interpretation issue receives attention because it is more peeving.) What is the basis, if any, for the orthodox claim? Let's look at the classical orthodox position as formulated by Rambam (Maimonides), who was a master and explicator of the philosophical and legal positions debated in the Talmud. The quotations below are translated from his encyclopedic (14 volume) work, the Mishneh Torah. "All the mitzvahs which were transmitted to Moshe (Moses) from Sinai were transmitted with their interpretation, as it is stated (Shmos 24:12): And I will give to you the tablets of stone and the Torah and the mitzvah (literally commandment). (In this context,) 'Torah' means the written Torah and 'mitzvah' refers to the interpretation. We are therefore commanded to fulfill the (written) Torah according to the 'interpretation', and the latter is what is called the Oral Torah (Torah she b'al peh). The entire Torah was handwritten by Moshe Rabbeinu (Moshe our teacher), before his death. He gave a sefer (Torah) to each of the Tribes and placed one (additional) sefer in the Aron (Ark), as a testimony, as it is written (Dvarim 31:26): Take this sefer Torah and place it aside the Aron habris (Ark of the Covenant) of the L*rd your G*d and it will be there as a witness (permanent testimony). The 'mitzva', which is the interpretation of the Torah, he did not commit to writing. Instead, he commanded it to the zekanim (elders), to Yehoshua (Joshua), and to the rest of Israel, as it is stated (Devorim 4:2): All of this that I command you, shall you be observant to do - you shall not add to or diminish from it. Because of this (oral, non-written aspect) it is called the 'Torah she b'al peh'. Although the Torah she b'al peh was not committed to writing, Moshe Rabeinu taught it, in its entirety, to the seventy elders in his beis din (court). Eliezer, Pinchas, and Yehoshua also received it from Moshe. And to Yehoshua his Talmid, he delivered Torah she b'al peh and commanded him concerning it, so that Yehoshua also taught orally throughout his life. Many elders received the Oral Law from Yehoshua. Eli received it from those elders and from Pinchas, Shmuel from Eli and his beis din, and David from Shmuel and his Beis Din. Achya ha'Shiloni was a Levi who left Egypyt and heard the Law from Moshe as a youth. He received it (as a Talmid) from David and his beis din. Eliyahu received the Oral Law from Achya ha'Shiloni and his beis din and Elisha from Eliyahu and his beis din. Yehoyada the Cohen received it from Elisha and his beis din and Zecharya from Yehoyada and his beis din;Hoshea from Zecharya and his beis din; Amos from Hoshea and his beis din;Yeshayahu from Amos and his beis din; Micha from Yeshayahu and his beis din;Yoel from Micha and his beis din; Nachum from Yoel and his beis din; Chabakuk from Nachum and his beis din; Tzefania from Chabakuk and his beis din; Yirmiyahu from Tzefania and his beis din; and Boruch ben Neria received it from Yirmiyahu and his beis din, and Ezra and his beis din received it from Boruch and his beis din. Ezra's beis din are those referred to as Anshei Knesses Ha g'dola (Men of the Great Assembly)." This is just the beginning! Stay tuned. Get your eggs ready. Yitzchok Samet