repoman

I am asking because I've been looking at some sites about the effect of it on Judaism, and opinions are all over the board.

This is a VERY contentious topic, and it seems that the average christian (or other non-jew) thinks that Jews have followed the Torah (Tanakh) for most of their instruction. However many people say that the Talmud (mishnah?) which is the written form of the oral Pharasaical tradition which Jesus specifically condemned is the real source of Jewsih religion now.

Besides this is issue is the disagreement what is actually said in the Talmud. Obviously, it may be that Anti-Jewish groups fabricate or seriously butcher sections of the Talmud. But on the other hand, it is definitely possible that sections of the Talmud are bigoted and chauvinistic above and beyond the levels found in the Torah.

I've heard that the Karaite Jews accept only the Torah, and have caught some flack for that from orthodox jews.
So can anyone who's researched this topic give me some insight? Do we have any former Rabbi's or Rabbi's here? Because, for christianity at least, former pastors can be the best exposers and debunkers of their former faith.

ohwilleke

The Talmud is a series of commentaries on the Torah, so I couldn't imagine anyone following the former while denying the later. Indeed, I can't imagine a Torahless Jew who believes in God.

The Talmud itself, unlike the Torah, does not even pretend to have a single author (the Torah is traditionally attributed to Moses, modern biblical scholarship notwithstanding), and trying to read the Talmud in a way that is not self-contradictory is a fine art that one needs natural talent and years in a Yeshiva to refine.

Some Talmudical explorations, such as those interpreting what constitutes Kosher food in this modern age, are laughable. Some, such as Talmudical discussions of the relative moral value of different kinds of charity, are deeply insightful. Some matters take harsh Biblical pronouncements and extrapolate them into something worse. The discussions mix the legalism of judicial opinions with the mystical pith of Zen Buddhism.

Like all important religous works, the Talmud can have multiple interpretations which in part reflect the interpreter. Thus, a wise Jewish community will seek a wise Rabbi.

[ April 08, 2002: Message edited by: ohwilleke ]</p>