The Oral Law

An Oral Law at Sinai?

Overview: The ancient concept of law and its oral component, internal gaps in the Written Torah left for the Oral Law, hints to extrabiblical laws throughout Tanakh, minimalist and maximalist...

The Rabbis: Supermen or Fallible Human Beings?

Overview: There’s a common misconception that turns the rabbis into supermen who can never make a mistake in science or Halacha. This article will bring sources and proofs to demonstrate...

The Origins of the Rashi & Rabeinu Tam dispute on Tefillin

Overview: The dispute between Rashi and Rabeinu Tam regarding the order of the Tefillin. How can there be arguments on commandments from Sinai. Giving a historical perspective to the dispute....

Overview: Narrowing down the various ‘yeridas hadoros’ misconceptions to the few possibilities of its true meaning, from a rational and empirical perspective with rabbinic texts to support the conclusions. ...

Was Matrilineality Always the Factor in Determining Jewishness? A Historical Study

Overview: Patrilineality in biblical times, Ezra’s reforms, the reasons why later rabbis changed the status quo, and the fringe rabbinic views eventually blurred out. This question has theological implications, political...

The Proper Approach to Midrash and Aggadah – Hebrew

On the Origins and Authenticity of Zohar

Overview: The evidence for late Zohar authorship, Moshe DeLeon as the prime candidate, responses to the issues raised, and why it’s all irrelevant to the authenticity of Zohar. Many...

Did Rashi Come Down with Moses at Sinai?

Overview: The Orthodox obsession with Rashi, the rabbis who criticized his approach, his unwavering commitment to Midrash, and the overall approach of Rashi in his commentary. The historical obsession...

The Evil Eye, Demons, & Superstitions

Overview: A rational approach to the supernatural elements mentioned in the Talmud, including the “Evil Eye,” the existence of demons, and alleged superstitions, and whether they are real and why...

Is the Oral Law a Violation of “Adding to the Torah”?

Overview: In this article we explain how the Oral Law and rabbinic enactments are not in violation of the prohibition of “adding to the Torah” prohibited in Deut. 13:1. “Everything...

Is Rabbinic Law Binding?

Overview: Exploring the authority of the rabbis and Halacha from a rational perspective. Addressing civil law, religious law, making Torah Law practical, and why the rabbis hesitate to make changes...

Re-approaching Rabbinic Interpretation

Overview: In this article we address the issues with the traditional understanding of the rabbinic derivation tools, midot shehatorah nidreshet bahen in Heb., and present a new approach to the...

Did the Wild Stories of Midrash Actually Happen?

Overview: Some Talmudic and Midrashic legends are so wild that they are rightfully disregarded as factual by the rational thinker. Were the rabbis so naïve to believe these stories and...

What’s Up with the Far-Fetched Interpretations?

Overview: Explaining why the Talmud often interprets biblical verses extremely wildly and far-fetched, taken totally out of their context or simple meaning. We will now explorer an especially relevant topic...

Rabbinic Enactments

Overview: In addition to the previous two aspects of the Oral Law, this third category are the laws that are purely of rabbinic origin. They are enactments and legislations purely...

Rabbinic Interpretation of Scripture

Overview: In addition to laws that were transmitted orally to the sages at Sinai, other parts of the Oral Law include parts that were derived using the methods of biblical...

Laws from Moses at Sinai

As described in “An Oral Law at Sinai,” it seems rather clear that at least some oral laws accompanied the Written Torah text given by Moses. A minimalist approach (discussed...

Why Weren’t the Oral Laws Included in the Written Law?

We have concluded the likelihood of an Oral Law that accompanied the Written Law. Yet there remains the obvious question of why these laws weren’t included with the Written text....

The Scriptural Basis for a Supreme Court

Overview: In what may be, in a sense, more evidence for rabbinic authority, here we bring Scriptural basis for the authority of a High Court whose power extends beyond the...

Is the Torah Up for “Free-Interpretation”?

Overview: Debunking the Karaite view, here we bring internal evidence to combat the notion that Torah is up for “free interpretation,” that each man observe the Mitzvos based on their...

An Alternate View of the Oral Law

Counter to the traditional view of the Oral Law, this model supposes human innovation in the origins and development of the Oral Law. This doesn’t come to negate the authority...