Oral Torah - Various Comments

• It is clear from the Talmud that the Torah law takes precedence over the Talmud: "When doubt arises in a Rabbinical law we are naturally lenient; but where the law is Scriptural we are strict." Pesahim, Soncino Edition, p. 42, footnote (2)

Hashem then said to Moshe, "Ascend to Me to the mountain and remain there, and I shall give you the Stone Tablets and the Torah and the Commandment that I have written, to teach them."

The 'Stone Tablets' refers to the Ten Commandments.  The 'Torah' refers to the Five Books of Moshe (the Written Torah).  The 'Commandment'  refers to the Mishnah (the essence of the Oral Law).  The phrase 'in order to teach them' refers to the Gemara - the explanations of the Mishnah. The Hebrew word lehorotam (to teach them), refers specifically to the Oral Torah which expounds the teachings contained in the Written Law.  This word is written without the second vav, thus relating it to the root word harah (to bear a child - as in 1Divrei HaYamim 4:17).  It is concluded that the Written Law bears within it the Oral Law and engenders it. 

• When the Klal Yisrael stood at Har Sinai 3,300 years ago, G-d communicated the 613 mitzvot, along with a detailed, practical explanation of how to fulfill them. At that point in time, the teachings were entirely oral.  It wasn't until 40 years later, just prior to Moshe's death and the Klal Yisrael entering the Land of Yisrael, that Moshe wrote the scroll of the written Torah (known as the Five Books of Moshe) and gave it to the Jewish people.

• There is a story is told about a fellow who applies for a job at a prestigious investment banking firm. The interviewer looks at his resume and says, "I see you went to Harvard Business School. Very nice. Tell me, what year did you graduate?"

  The fellow says, "1990."

  "1990. Did you ever take any courses with Professor Stevens?"

  "Stevens? No."

  "Okay, how about Professor Phillips? He's one of the most popular professors at Harvard. Older fellow, grey hair. Did you meet him?"

  "Nope, never heard of Phillips."

  "You went to the Harvard Business School and you don't know two of the most popular professors?! I don't get it. Did you attend Harvard or not?"

  "Well, I guess I should be honest with you. I didn't actually go to Harvard. My roommate attended the Harvard Business School. He used to bring home all his notes and textbooks, and I read everything he brought home. So when he graduated, I figured I graduated, too."

  The interviewer was not impressed. And our “graduate" didn't get the job. (Or if he did, it's one of those firms that's out of business now...)

  Why isn't it enough just to read the notes to be considered a Harvard graduate?

  Because you need to hear the lectures. The professors add so much information that the notes simply don't present a full view of the subject. If you want to get a full understanding of a text, what's the best way to find out? Ask the experts: "What's behind this? Please explain it."

  Information in the written form is, by definition, secondary and limited in scope. That's why the Oral Torah is 50 times the size of the Written Torah!

  In actuality, the Oral Torah is infinite. It contains the totality of Torah, which -- as the word of the infinite G-d -- is by its very definition infinite. (Aish Rabbi)

   

• The Oral Torah was originally meant to be transmitted by word of mouth. It was transmitted from master to student in such a manner that if the student had any question, he would be able to ask, and thus avoid ambiguity. A written text, on the other hand, no matter how perfect, is always subject to misinterpretation.  Furthermore, the Oral Torah was meant to cover the infinitude of cases which would arise in the course of time. It could never have been written in its entirety. It is thus written (Kohelet 12:12), "Of making many books there is no end." G-d therefore gave Moshe a set of rules through which the Torah could be applied to every possible case.  If the entire Torah would have been given in writing, everyone would be able to interpret it as he desired. This would lead to division and discord among people who followed the Torah in different ways. The Oral Torah, on the other hand, would require a central authority to preserve it, thus assuring the unity of Yisrael.

• Do not forsake this book of the Torah and you shall study it day and night. Yehoshua 1:8 These are the things which a person enjoys the fruits of in this world while the principle is put aside for him in the next world: honoring his mother and father, acts of kindness, bringing peace between a man and his friend, and the study of Torah is equal to all of them put together. Mishnah Peah 1:1

• A person who studies Torah at night, The Holy One Blessed Be He draws upon him a string of kindness during the day. Talmud Bavli, Chagigah 12b

• The Holy One Blessed Be He has not made known the reward of performing a mitzvah so that a person who fulfills a mitzvah can be credited with having done it out of faith alone. Talmud Yerushalami Peah 1:1

• Be careful to observe a simple mitzvah as you would a difficult one because you do not know the reward of any particular mitzvah.  Talmud Bavli Nedarim 32b

• Liars are one of four groups of people who will not enjoy the Divine Presence (in the world to come). Talmud Bavli Sotah 42a

• A person is forgiven on Yom Kippur for the sins he committed that were between him and G-d. He is not forgiven for the sins he committed between him and his fellow man until he asks for his forgiveness. Talmud Bavli Yoma 85b

• A person who forgives others, heaven in turn forgives all his transgressions. Talmud Bavli Megillah 28a

• Everything that happens to a person, including wealth and poverty, is decided upon by G-d.  Rashi to Talmud Bavli Brachot 32b

• A person who, despite the temptation, refrains from committing a sin is rewarded with having performed a mitzvah. Talmud Bavli Kiddushin 39b

• A person who steals from someone something, even if it is only worth a penny, is considered as having taken his soul from him. Talmud Bavli Bava Kama 119a

• A case involving only a penny should be as important in the eyes of the judges as a case that involves a large sum of money. Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 8a

• Someone who gives even a penny to a poor person merits to receive the Divine Presence. Talmud Bavli Bava Batra 10a

• The Torah was given for the purpose of peaceful relationships among people as it is stated "Its ways are the ways of pleasantness and all it's paths are peaceful (Mishlei 3:17) Talmud Bavli Gittin 59b

• Even completely righteous people are not on the same high level as are those who repent.  Talmud Bavli Brachot 34b

• The Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt on the merit of the righteous women of that generation.  Talmud Bavli Sotah 11b

• The righteous promise little but do a lot of good while the wicked promise a lot but do no good at all.  Talmud Bavli Bava Metzia 87a

• It is better to uproot a letter of the Torah than to publicly desecrate G-d's Name.  Talmud Bavli Yevomot 79

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