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And I will walk at Liberty!

Devarim/Deuteronomy 6:4 - 9

 

HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE L-RD OUR G-D, THE L-RD IS ONE. [5] And thou shalt love the L-RD thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. [6] And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; [7] and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. [8] And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. [9] And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.

 

Scripture Translation from the Jewish Publication Society

Foundations for Torah Understanding

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Jewish terminology and methodology can seem different, so please check out the links page or visit my favorite Jewish resource for beginners, Judaism 101. This will help you to get better acquainted with Judaism in general.


So, you want to know more about Torah...that is the first step in understanding Torah! Torah should come from desire primarily - but there will be times when the desire won't be there for whatever reason. Do we do as the rabbis say and "fake it" or what? Internalize, personalize it. Find meaning and freedom. Not everyone will have perfect emunah (faith, certainty, strength of resolve, action/knowledge), but it is our longing for Torah and HaShem that blesses us - when the blessings and promises come true, it is easier to be like Abraham and the patriarchs; that is, to walk humbly with HaShem.


When understood this way, a positive approach makes Torah come alive to the student, so to speak.


For a similar approach, please check out the website for Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, PhD and the offsite blog entry regarding "Judaism as Symphony"


Torah understanding must also come from within; we must understand how we relate to God and His creation: other people, animals, and nature. We must have an internal desire to relate to others positively and to help heal the world. Though obeying or disciplining oneself may seem constraining, people will agree that alcoholism, addictions to drugs, and other vices are harmful. When the person exercises self-discipline, it is liberating, not a burden. It may be difficult, as Torah can be, but it is meant to make us holy and in turn, the world holy.


Though our desires are fallible, study and submission to God's Torah is one way to make us more in His image. Study and submission should not be forced, but should come from a desire, or even a desire to desire, to be holy.


Some people may think that Torah is unreachable and this opinion has lead to many disparate faiths and expressions of the original faith of the bnei Yisra'el (the people of Israel). Please see below for why Torah is not out of our reach!


More on this coming in upcoming article; Please check back soon!


[Why] Torah is Not Far Off!

Dev/Deut 30:1-20

 

(1)  And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither the L-RD thy G-d hath driven thee,

(2)  and shalt return unto the L-RD thy G-d, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;

(3)  that then the L-RD thy G-d will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither the L-RD thy G-d hath scattered thee.

(4)  If any of thine that are dispersed be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will the L-RD thy G-d gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee.

(5)  And the L-RD thy G-d will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

(6)  And the L-RD thy G-d will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the L-RD thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

(7)  And the L-RD thy G-d will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, that persecuted thee.

(8)  And thou shalt return and hearken to the voice of the L-RD, and do all His commandments which I command thee this day.

(9)  And the L-RD thy G-d will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for the L-RD will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers;

(10)  if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the L-RD thy G-d, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto the L-RD thy G-d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.

(11)  For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off.

(12)  It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say: 'Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?'

(13)  Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say: 'Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?'

(14)  But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

(15)  See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil,

(16)  in that I command thee this day to love the L-RD thy G-d, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances; then thou shalt live and multiply, and the L-RD thy G-d shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.

(17)  But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

(18)  I declare unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over the Jordan to go in to possess it.

(19)  I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;


JPS Translation


          Some people may say that Torah obedience is not possible or that it is not what HaShem really wants, but these verses (and many others) show us that it is in our reach because that is where HaShem put it. For those of us who have fallen away from Torah, He will deliver us to liberty.

 

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