After
Simchat Torah, Jews again begin studying the Torah, beginning at the be-ginning
with the book of Genesis. According to the Rabbis, each year when it the Torah
readings are ending with the last chapters of Deuteronomy, HaSatan goes before
God to accuse the Jewish people, saying that now that they are finishing with
Deuteronomy, they will no longer study Torah. So at
Simchat Torah, as soon as we finish reading the last chapter of Deuteronomy, we
roll the Torah scroll back to read from Genesis chapter 1, to prove that
HaSatan is a liar.
|
Rav Richard 'Aharon' Chaimberlin |
Many
years ago, Miriam (my wife) was employed by an Orthodox Jewish scholar. His
family invited us to join his family in their sukka
during Sukkot, where we had a lovely meal. Afterwards, they invited us into
their home. The husband invited me upstairs, where he had all the volumes of
the Talmud. Each page had Mishnah, which is a commentary on Torah in Hebrew,
surrounded by Gemara, which is a commentary on Mishnah written in Aramaic. This
man was able to read both fluently. I was suitably impressed.
I
decided to ask him what he felt about heaven and hell. He responded something
like this: "Heaven - Gan Eden - is where the righteous go after this life.
They study Torah 24 hours every day. They never stop to eat or sleep. They just
study Torah."
I
mentioned to him that many people wouldn't be happy with that picture of Gan
Eden, so I asked him what Hell was like. He said something like this:
"Hell - Gehenna - is where the unrighteous go after this life. They study
Torah 24 hours every day. They never stop to eat or sleep. They just study
Torah."
He
probably told his story somewhat tongue-in-cheek. But I got the picture! The
study of Torah doesn't end in this life. And we should learn to love Torah in
this live, or heaven will be hell for us!
When
books were added to the Hebrew scriptures, there was one primary test to determine
if the book was worthy. If it contradicted Torah, it
was not to be included in the Jewish canon of books. That same test should
apply to the Newer Testament. Any interpretation of NT writings that
contradicts Torah should be rejected.
I
have the Schottenstein Interlinear Chumash published by Artscroll,
which contains the Five Books of Torah, along with fairly extensive Rabbinic
commentaries as one proceeds through the Five Books, as well as the Haftarah
for each Torah portion. It's a magnificent, huge, one-volume edition, almost
1700 pages, and beautifully put together. I used to make use of Rashi's 5-volume commentary of Torah, but seldom use it
today. I am not always thrilled with the Rabbinic commentaries, but I do prefer
them to Christian commentaries.
This
article contains some information that is critical of some of these Jewish
commentators on the Torah. I would like to qualify this criticism. All were
intellectual geniuses. They had almost encyclopedic memories. By comparison, I
might not seem so bright. But nonetheless, we can have differences of opinion
when it comes to various doctrines and beliefs. And of course
I would strongly disagree with traditional Jewish commentators in their
rejection of Yeshua as the Messiah.
The
Chumash that I use includes the Aramaic Targum written by Onkelos. The word targum
means "translation" in Hebrew. However, this word is commonly used
for Aramaic translations of the Tanakh (OT). Onkelos completed his Targum
(actually a paraphrase) on the Torah in about 110 CE.[1]
Later, there was a Targum Jonathan (Yonatan) of the Nevi'im (Prophets). Both of
these Targums are widely accepted in Judaism. There is no official Targum for
the Ketuvim ("Writings").
ONKELOS
Onkelos (35 to 120 CE) was an extraordinary
scholar. He was also a convert to Judaism, and was in fact a nephew of
Titus - yes, the same Titus who is responsible for the destruction of the
Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. He completed his Targum on Torah in about
110 CE. The Roman emperor was very unhappy about a member of the Roman aristocracy
converting to Judaism. According to legend, he sent three different groups of men
to arrest Onkelos. Each time, Onkelos succeeded in convincing these men of the
truth of the Jewish religion, causing them to convert. Thereafter, the Roman
authorities gave up on trying to arrest him. Whether true or not, it is an
interesting legend. But of greater interest to me is the fact that the Targum
of Onkelos, a Gentile convert to Judaism, is the most respected Targum. The
Targum of Onkelos is included throughout my Chumash, but only in the Aramaic
language, no English translation.
RASHI
Also, Rashi's
commentary is also included throughout my Chumash. Rashi was born in France in
1040, but spent much of his life in Germany. He founded a yeshiva in Worms,
Germany, but eventually made his way back to France where he died in 1105. He
was also a vintner, producing fine wines. Many liquor stores still sell Rashi
wine, although I doubt that these wines have a connection to Rashi.
Rashi
completed a Hebrew commentary on the entire Tanakh (OT), as well as commentaries
on 30 of the 39 tractates of Talmud. These were both immense tasks. There were
no printing presses in his day. The Bible wasn't neatly divided up in chapters
and verses until centuries later when a Catholic monk performed this useful
feat. Rashi's commentary on the Torah is so well
respected that there are about 300 commentaries on Rashi's
commentary of the Torah! His commentary in my Chumash is all in Rashi's own unique Hebrew script. Rashi had three
daughters, but no sons. He is also famous for all three daughters being great
scholars, and each also married great scholars. Also, although most Orthodox
Jews frown on this, each of the daughters designed tallits
(prayer shawls) that were feminine, along with the tzitziot
(fringes) on the corners. I read Rashi's commentary
translated into English on occasion, but frankly don't often care for it that
much. I joke that Rashi was probably drinking too much of his fine wine when he
wrote his commentary. As time goes on, I have begun to appreciate it more.
MAIMONIDES
The most famous commentator is Maimonides,
often called "the Rambam." He was born in 1135 in Spain, and died in
1204 in Tiberias, Israel. He wrote extensive commentaries on both the Tanakh
and Talmud. He also wrote the Mishneh Torah
("Second Law"), with its instructions on Halachah (Rabbinic interpretations
on how to obey the mitzvot - commandments). The term Mishneh
Torah is also used for the book of Deuteronomy, which also means "Second
Law" in Greek.
Overall,
I am not thrilled with Maimonides, because he takes an allegoric view of Scripture,
that it should be often taken figuratively. Overall, my view is,
"When the literal interpretation makes sense, seek no other sense." I
should qualify that a bit. As we dig deeper into Scripture, there are often
deeper meanings to be gleaned. However, I generally don't like allegorical
interpretations, something that is often done in Christianity. To make matters
worse, Maimonides often tries to combine Greek philosophy with Torah. To me,
that is like trying to mix oil and water. They don't mix. Maimonides also wrote
Guide to the Perplexed. I tried to read it. I don't consider myself a
dummy, but I had a hard time trying to understand this book. I got more
perplexed the more that I read. Maimonides was also a physician.
We
have visited the shrine to Maimonides in Tiberias, Israel. And it really is
a shrine. Miriam and I were a bit shocked to see a giant portrait of Maimonides
hovering over dozens of candles. It felt almost like going into a Catholic
church. However, we can't blame Maimonides for this shrine built after his
death. I mention Maimonides because my Chumash also makes use of his
commentaries.
NACHMONIDES
My favorite commentator is Nachmonides,
known as "the Ramban," not to be confused with the Rambam.
Like Maimonides, Nachmonides was also born in Spain, in 1194, and was also a
physician. He was already a practicing physician while still a teenager! Obviously,
he was another brilliant Jew. I like his commentaries because he promoted a literal
interpretation of the Torah. He also had insights that boggle the mind. Just by
reading Genesis chapter 1, he understood that there are ten dimensions: Four
are knowable, and six are unknowable. I can understand length, width, height,
and time. I find it hard to wrap my brain around the concept of six other dimensions.
However, many modern physicists have come to the same conclusion of these extra
dimensions that Nachmonides understood almost 800 years ago.
In
Medieval Spain, there were occasionally events called "Disputations."
They would have a public debate using a learned rabbi, who would be forced to
debate a learned Christian. The judges would also be Christians (Catholic
Christians, of course). The debates would be on the truths of the Jewish and
Christian religions. If the Jewish rabbi lost the debate, the Jews of that town
would be forced to convert to Catholicism. Jews who refused to convert would be
forced into exile or perhaps burned at the stake. If the rabbi won the debate,
the Jewish population would be free to remain and continue to practice their
religion.
In
1263, there was a Disputation scheduled in Barcelona. Nachmonides was chosen to
debate a learned Christian. The cards were clearly stacked against Nachmonides,
since the judges were all Catholic Christians. However, the judges were impressed
by the logic
of Nachmonides, and decided that Nachmonides
had won the debate. Therefore, the Jews could remain in Barcelona and remain
true to their faith. However, 4 years later, Nachmonides was forced to leave
Spain. Eventually, he made it to Israel, and died in Tz'fat
(Safed), perhaps the most mystical city in Israel. Nachmonides was also a
Kabbalist, something that I disagree with. I sometimes refer to Kabbalah as
Jewish occult with a Hindi accent, because Kabbalah teaches such things as reincarnation.
(Much of it is just plain boring.)
YESHUA
Another superb Jewish commentator on the Torah is Yeshua! Many people
believe that Jesus came to earth to start up a new religion. The truth is that
Yeshua came to be the Messiah for the old religion: Judaism. Neither He nor his
talmidim (disciples) converted to Christianity. They remained Jewish followers
of the Jewish Messiah. His Sermon on the Mount was a very rabbinic interpretation
of Halachah. While many Christians believe that Jesus came to do away with the
Law, Yeshua said,
17Think not that I have come to destroy
the Law, or the prophets: I have not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18For
truly I say to you, Until heaven and earth pass away,
not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law, until all be
fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the
kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall
be called great in the kingdom of heaven.[2]
Also, instead of weakening the commandments,
He actually strengthened them, including the prohibitions of murder (5:21-22),
adultery (5:27-29), divorce (5:30-32), false vows (5:33-37), and loving your
neighbor (5:43-48).
Of course, Yeshua was far
more than a commentator on the Word. He was the Word! As it says in John
1:1-3: "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The
same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing made that was made." The only Scriptures
that Yeshua had in the First Century was the Tanakh, including the Torah, which
Yeshua quoted from often.
RAV SHA'UL (PAUL)
Perhaps the most misunderstood of all
is Rav Sha'ul, known also as Paul. On a personal level, he continued
worshipping and teaching in the synagogues (Acts 13:14; 17:2; 17:17 18:4;
18:29). He observed and practiced Temple sacrifices (Acts 21:26). He stated,
"I am a Jew" (Acts 22:3). He never called himself a Christian. In Acts
23:6, he stated, "I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees." He stated,
"I have committed no offense against the Law of the Jews or against the
Temple or against Caesar" (Acts 25:8). He said, "I have done nothing
against our people (the Jews), or the customs of the fathers" (Acts
28:17).
In
Romans 2:13, Paul said. "For not the hearers of the Law are just before
God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified." In Romans 3:31,
Paul stated, "Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be!
On the contrary, we establish the Law." Whereas many claim
to be spiritual by not keeping the commandments, Rav Sha'ul said,
"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am carnal..." in
Romans 7:14. At least 90% of what Paul taught was what could be called
"pro-Torah." However, many Christians will cling to the 10% of his
teachings which can be misconstrued as "anti-Torah." God's
instructions (Torah) are eternal, as seen in Psalm 119:144,152, etc.
The
concept that God has changed His mind and "done away" with Torah is
contrary to His nature. In Malachi 3:6, we read, "I, the LORD,
do not change..." The Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were fickle and
moody. However, the God we worship does not change. The very definition of sin
in the Newer Testament tells us, "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also
the Law, for sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4). Wow! That
sounds like the same definition of sin that we would find in the Tanakh (OT)!
I
hasten to add: We do not keep the Law (God's instructions) in order to get
saved. Instead, the Law contains God's instructions for those who are already
redeemed. As Yeshua said, "If you love Me, you will keep my
commandments" (John 14:15). We also read, "By this we know that we
have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments; The one who said, 'I
have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God
has been truly perfected. By this we know that we are in Him. The one who says
he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked" (1
John 2:3-6). And of course, Yeshua walked as a Torah-observant Jew.