Thursday, 11 September 2014

Orthodox Prayer refutes the Talmud

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There are many pointers and proofs in the Torah against the existence or authenticity of a so-called Oral Law.  However, since the Orthodox prayer book / siddur often makes reference to the Written Torah, it at times reveals the sources that disprove Orthodox theology.

One such verse comes from Deut 4.  It should be noted that Ch.4 of Devarim opens with the law against adding and subtracting:

2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.


This sets the context of the entire chapter.  But the verse which is read aloud in Orthodox synagogues when the Torah scroll is lifted up is the following:


מד  וְזֹאת, הַתּוֹרָה, אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם מֹשֶׁה, לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.

44 And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel



This verse is referring to the written Law.  It is also excluding what does not apepar in the Written law, eg the New Testament, the Talmud, the Koran, the Book of Mormon etc.  It also says something more profound.  It says that a Law was set before Bnei Israel, ie what it is that they are required to observe.  It then identifies what that law was/is.   That Law is the written Law that the Torah refers to,  and this is confirmed on a weekly basis in the Orthodox synagogue.   It is also noteworthy that no such declaration is ever made about the Talmud, Mishnah etc.



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