[Avodah] Torah She-be-al Peh

[Prof. Levine via Avodah]

I think that the following regarding the Oral Torah is important to know.


The following is 
from 
<http://www.morashasyllabus.com/class/Jewish%20Law%20II.pdf>http://www.morashasyllabus.com/class/Jewish%20Law%20II.pdf 
beginning on page 6.

Rambam, Introduction to Sanhedrin, Chapter 10 – 
There has always been an Oral Torah

The eighth Fundamental Principle of Judaism is
that the Torah is from Heaven. This means that
we must believe that this entire Torah, which
was given to us from Moshe Our Teacher, may
he rest in peace, is entirely from the mouth of the
Almighty.
All this is also true for the explanation of the
Torah [the Oral Torah], which was also received
from the mouth of the Almighty. The manner in
which we today perform the mitzvot of Sukkah,
Lulav, Shofar, Tzitzit, Tefillin, and other items
is precisely the way that God, blessed be He,
told Moshe, who then informed us. And the one
whom God appointed as an agent is surely to be
relied upon.

There are hints in the written text to the fact 
that the Written Torah was given together with the Oral Torah.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:46 with Commentary of 
Rashi – There are two Torahs, both given to
Moshe by God.

These are the statutes, the ordinances, and the
Torahs that the Lord gave between Himself and
the children of Israel on Mount Sinai, through
Moshe.

Rashi –
and the Torahs [Why the plural form,
“Torahs” ? This denotes two Torahs]: One Written
Torah and one Oral Torah. It teaches us that all
was given to Moshe on [Mount] Sinai. [Torat
Kohanim 26:54
Moshe was taught both on Mount Sinai.

Devarim 9:10 and Talmud Yerushalmi, Megillah 28a 
– Moshe was taught all of the Oral Torah.

God gave me the two stone tablets inscribed
with the finger of God. And upon them was [it
written] according to all the words that God
declared to you on the mountain out of the fire,
on the Day of Assembly.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The text does
not say, “upon them” rather “and upon them”;
not “words” rather “the words”; not “all” rather
“according to all.” These extra words allude to
Scripture, Mishnah, Talmud and Aggadah. Even
what an experienced student was destined to
rule before his teacher was already said to Moshe
at Sinai. And so it is written, “Is there a matter
about which one can say ‘Look, this is new!’? To
which his fellow will reply, ‘It has already been in
the times that came before us’” (Kohelet 1:10).

Moshe then transmitted all that he was taught by 
God, both the Written and the Oral Torah


Talmud Bavli, Eruvin 54b – The Oral Torah was 
taught to Moshe and transmitted by him to
the entire nation.

Our Rabbis taught: What was the procedure of
the instruction in the Oral Torah? Moshe learned
directly from God. Then Aharon entered and
Moshe taught him his lesson. Aharon then moved
aside and sat down on Moshe’ left. Thereupon,
Aharon’s sons entered and Moshe taught them
this lesson. His sons then moved aside, Eleazar
taking his seat on Moshe’ right and Ithamar on
Aharon’s left.

Rabbi Judah stated: Aharon was always on
Moshe’s right. Thereupon, the elders entered, and
Moshe taught them the lesson. When the elders
moved aside, all the people entered, and Moshe
taught them the same lesson. It thus followed
that Aharon heard the lesson four times, his
sons heard it three times, the elders twice and all
the people once. At this stage Moshe departed,
and Aharon taught them the same lesson. Then
Aharon departed, and his sons taught them the
lesson. His sons then departed, and the elders
taught them the lesson. It thus followed that
everyone heard the same lesson four times

 From all of this it seems to me that Torah 
she-be-al peh was given with precision and 
definiteness to Moshe and transmitted by him to 
the nation of Israel and on and on for generations.


YL
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