Sunday, August 3, 2008

The Torah is not in Heaven !!!

B"H

G - d gave the Jews the Torah so that they are able of keeping it in this (our physical) world. The Torah is only valid in this world and has NO validity in Heaven. Non - Jews should keep the Seven Noachide Laws and only Jews are required of keeping all the Torah Mitzvot in order to perfect themselves and get closer to G - d. The fulfillment of Torah Mitzvot is considered a Tikun (soul rectification). Even the angels are not able to keep the Torah and thus, we humans, are on a much higher level. Only humans are able of reaching higher levels but angels always remain on the same one.

And it is only us being responsible for interpreting the Torah laws. First it used to be Moshe and later on the Sanhedrin in the Temple. Since the Temple destructions, we don't have a Sanhedrin anymore and I don't want to get further into the subject of if there is a valid Sanhedrin today or not. Some rabbis might think so but the self - appointed one doesn’t represent anyone in this country.

The members of the Sanhedrin in Temple times were no dummies, even if Christian missionaries and the church claim the opposite. Many times we Jews get the Christian response that the Sanhedrin only consisted of old stubborn rabbis who wouldn't want to see the "truth" ?. This way, missionaries, church, etc. try to justify their "Meshiach ?" and they don't care about using lies and false interpretations and claims. Fact is that the Sanhedrin consisted of the greatest and most learned rabbis in those days. Those studying the Talmud seriously and carefully will easily come to the same conclusion.

During Temple times it happened that the Sanhedrin was discussing an extremely complicated halachic issue and suddenly one of their members heard a "heavenly voice - a Bat Kol". Means that he heard G - d's decision in this case. So, what should this particular member do ? He ran to the other judges and informed them about what he had heard.

However, the Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in the Talmud Tractates Bava Metziah 59b as well as in Chullin 44a teaches us that we shouldn't listen to a heavenly voice in halachic matters. The Torah was given to humans at Mount Sinai and thus, halachic decisions have to be made by humans. The Gemara continues with the statement that G - d Himself said that decisions should be made by rabbinic courts and a majority of rabbis.

G - d gave the Torah in a context humans are able to understand. Rabbi Yehoshua interpreted this statement as G - d doesn't want to get involved in halachic disputes. Thus, the "heavenly voice - Bat Kol" only serves as a test for the rabbis. Do they really insist on their opinion or not ? They are obligated to interpret Halacha and make their decisions even if a Bal Kol says something else. Only a halachic decision made by the rabbis in our physical world has validity.

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