Parshah Insight: Bereishit
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The meaning of "Torah"
This was a wonderful beginning to the series of Parshah Insights which my wife and I are learning this week following the passing of R. Schochet, zt"l. I can assure the casual listener that these brief talks are deep and important.
I am surprised that there is a comment that is irrelevant to the topic of the lecture, complaining about the method of instruction in Judaism in general. The reason appears to be that the writer was told, correctly, that Torah does not mean learning.
Torah is related to moreh, which means teacher. Thus Torah is teaching. If learning were the intended meaning, the proper word, I believe, would be Talmud.
Words mean what they mean, not what we want them to mean. If the meaning of words changes to suit every individual's preference, communication ceases.
The teacher who made this point does not deserve criticism, but humble thanks.
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Bereshit Thank you Yehuda Shurpin for taking a bit of time. Your reference is most helpful and rewarding for me, relieving my confusion. Reply
Thank you JIS toronto Thank you JIS Reply
Re: Bereshit See How Did the Torah Exist Before it Happened? Reply
of course learning comes first. You cannot teach before acquiringh proper knowledge for otherwise you heave nothing topass on. As we say in our prayers - lilmod ulelamed. Withoug prior learning it is unavoidable to teach erroneously. Reply
Torah
The first time i was asked " what does Torah mean, I guessed ' learning '. The rabbi said ' no '. Simply ' no ' , end of subject. He took a few more guesses from us neophytes, and finally announced , " Teaching ". By now i am very familiar three most commonly used: teaching, instruction blueprint.
To me, the rejection of ' learning ' left me perturbed. Learning is the flip side to teaching. Later the rabbi admitted that this was the first time that he was teaching adults. He was used to teaching children. Seems to me he asked an open-ended question, but wanted a closed end answer.
Can you explain how ' leaning ' is not what Torah means ? If it involves context, that is no problem. Context has become an important element in many Torah discussions.
Why this issue is important to me is that too many rabbis want to indoctrinate, hold power. It's too bad that Chabad fares no better than other sects of observance... same infighting and intrigues, very normal and prosaic.
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Bereshit If, as you propose, Torah existed before any physical manifestion i.e. Creation; then it would seem that all that occurred in the whole of Torah as it unfolded in the world becomes a mirror image of the five books already in existence. Which is reality? Reply
Thank you for this amazing insight. Reply
Yes Torah exists before the universe was made, but at a higher state as God's own code as God has to maintain His own righteous, else He would be destroyed by His own power, and all would cease to be. This power is the light hidden from us, for our own good for surely it would destroy 99.99999% of us in our present state.