Was the Torah written by Moses?
According to Rabbinic Judaism it was. But, if we are going to be absolutely honest with ourselves — it was not — at least not all of it.
Most of the first five books of the Jewish Bible were oral stories pieced together over a period of several centuries. These stories were compiled and collated beginning with and during the Babylonian Exile in the 6th Century BCE with most gathered together into a full canonized text beginning in the Hasmonean period circa 200 BCE with the canonized three sections of the entire Jewish Bible (Tanakh — Torah-Prophets-Writings) finally fixed by what was left of the Rabbinic Sanhedrin sometime in the late Second Century CE.
Parshat Naso is the longest single parsha in the Torah, clocking in at 176 verses. That’s Torah’s way of saying, “Hey, you might want to take a long , serious and contemplative look at what you’re about to learn.”
Also on Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-165229596?source=queue
This Torah portion is a powder keg of rebellion, ego, Divine smackdowns, and deep theological reflection. It’s more than just a cautionary tale, it’s a microscope on the human soul, power, leadership, and holiness.
or on Substack at: https://substack.com/home/post/p-166898903?source=queue
So, what makes us Jews think we’re right when it comes to holy living? The short answer? We don’t think we’re right, we think we’re obligated.
On Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-166729715?source=queue
