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If Torah (תורה) is immutable, how can rabbis add blessings, prayer requirements, and new prohibitions throughout history? Torah isn't a regulatory system but God's eternal thoughts and values shared with humanity. Rabbinic innovations don't change Torah's essence but help each generation connect to unchanging divine truths as we become more distant from Sinai.
Rabbi Zweig delivers an in-depth analysis of Maimonides' ninth principle of faith from the Thirteen Principles: "The Torah (תורה) will not be changed and there will never be another Torah given by God." He begins by explaining that this principle is fundamental - without it, one cannot maintain a proper relationship with God or the Jewish people. The lecture addresses a crucial theological question: if Torah cannot change, how do we account for the many rabbinic innovations and modifications throughout Jewish history, such as blessings before eating, communal prayer requirements, two-day holidays, and prohibitions like Rabbeinu Gershom's ban on divorcing a woman against her will? The Rabbi resolves this apparent contradiction by explaining the true nature of Torah. Torah is not merely a regulatory system designed to govern human behavior - it is God's intimate thoughts and absolute truths shared with humanity. As the Talmud (תלמוד) states, "Anochi" is an acronym meaning "I, My soul, wrote and transmitted." Torah represents God's eternal wisdom and value system, which is as unchanging as God Himself. Humans were created specifically with the capacity to relate to and find fulfillment in these divine truths.
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Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Why does Maimonides prove divine reward and punishment from an obscure dialogue rather than explicit Torah passages? Using Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah's comparison of God to a doctor, the shiur shows that mitzvos are divine prescriptions for optimal living - violating them naturally harms us. This reframes religious observance from arbitrary obligation to caring divine guidance for our wellbeing.
