ORAL TORAH

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Oral Torah

The oral Torah refers to those aspects of the Jewish law that were not initially committed to writing. There are various types of the oral Torah. For instance, the Mitzvah refers to the explanations that give the written laws meaning. They are inseparable from the written Torah. Another aspect is the message that Moses received from God as Mt Sinai, and thereafter transcribe it to the Jews, who thereafter handed it down to future generations. 

Why it was created

The texts that the Rabbis created are interpretations and expositions of the Torah to enable the Jewish nation understand their laws better. These interpretations were not separable from the written law. Over time, Circumstances of the time change, and rabbis come up with relevant interpretations. More than anything else, this has enabled the religions to be versatile, and not be stuck in the past, thereby becoming irrelevant to present issues (Fishman, 2012). 

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Examples of Oral Torah 

In the book of Deuteronomy 23:3, Israelites are forbidden from marrying Moabites. However, when Ruth, a Moabite, marries Boaz, a Jew, an oral Torah text is issued which explains that the ban was only for Moabite men. In another example, the bible in Exodus 21:22–27 encourages revenge, an eye for an eye”. However, the oral Torah teaches that it was supposed to be monetary compensation, to the tune of what was decided by the parties to be fair compensation. In the book of Deuteronomy 6:8, the people of Israel are commanded to wear a tefillin above the eyes, and on their arms. The people then have to rely on the oral Torah to get indications on what the tefillin is to be made of, how they are to be worn, and even, what they are. 

Responsa and their role in Judaism

The responsa were created as answers by Rabbis and Jewish religious scholars on some matters of the religious law. The response have been complied for a long time, by rabbis as they face new questions about the application of the Torah in changing times. The response cover everything from new technology, changing social conditions and values, among other issues. The responses, being a recognized form of religious literature. Help the Jewish religion evolve and adapt to the times, despite its substrata being a few millennia old. The also act as a sort of historical record for Jews, who can see the motions and eras their religion has gone through in the past. 

Use of scripture among Jews 

The Jews have been able to harness the teachings of their scripture for a host of things, including their daily interactions, and ordinary lives. For instance, Jews use their scriptures in marriage and funeral processes, as well as circumcision. In business, their dealings with others also draw from religious teachings, either written or otherwise (Hoffman, 2018). 

Judaism is more than a religion; it is a way of life. As such, dietary laws (kosher), observance of the Shabbat, among others have a central significance in a normal Jew’s life. Jews use of these rules is described in the Torah. However, the oral Torah gives them the necessary applicability needed in a modern setting. For instance, The Torah forbids lighting fires on Saturdays. In the modern context, some Jews have taken this to include not driving on Saturday, since it would include igniting an engine. 

References 

Fishman, T. (2012). Becoming the People of the Talmud: Oral Torah as Written Tradition in Medieval Jewish Cultures. University of Pennsylvania Press.

Hoffman, L. (2018). A focus on Judaism. Community Practitioner, 91(2), 31-33.