Category Archives: Written Law

The Torah in Conflict with Itself

Sometimes it seems that the Torah is in conflict with itself over whether it’s a cultural history or a book of laws. Could this inconsistency be a matter of of design? Continue reading

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“Elu v’elu’ are the words of the living God

(I had intended to write an entirely different essay on my interpretation of the sugyah in Sanhedrin dealing with the stubborn and rebellious son. But as I was scrambling to finish this article before Shavuot, I suddenly came up with … Continue reading

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Halakhic Innovation

I know this is a bit off-topic, but this article from today’s Haaretz is relevant to the general theme of my series on the evolution of the oral law. It raises a question we raised since our first class in … Continue reading

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From God’s Mouth? Introduction to a New Course

Recently, I began studying the development of Torah Shebe’al peh with my students in Jerusalem.  The course is entitled From God’s Mouth? — The Evolution of The Oral Law  and it meets at the Fuchsberg Center Wednesday mornings.   Our goal … Continue reading

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