Q&A: The Reliability of the Written Torah
The Reliability of the Written Torah
Question
Hello Rabbi, I saw your quote: “Regarding the Written Torah, there are significant challenges concerning certain specific parts of it (not large parts). I do not know exactly what was given at Sinai, and I don’t think anyone knows.”
And I find this assumption very difficult, so I would be glad for an explanation: what are the challenges to the Written Torah?
And an assumption like this is in complete contradiction to Maimonides in his introductions to the Mishnah, where he argues that the entire Torah and the entire Oral Torah were given at Sinai. How is this to be explained?
Answer
Already among the medieval authorities (Rishonim) there are statements about verses that were written later. A prominent example is a verse like “to this very day,” and the like.
And if what I said contradicts Maimonides, why does that require an explanation? Let him explain it. But even in the words of the Sages there is room to say that the claim is normative rather than historical. That is, everything should be treated as though it was given at Sinai. Exactly like the statements about everything that an experienced student is destined to innovate—which certainly was not at Sinai, and was not shown to Moses at Sinai.
Discussion on Answer
You can search online. I don’t deal with these matters. It’s not interesting and not very important.
With God’s help
@Yisrael Mushkovitz
In principle, you can look at the following sources:
Sanhedrin 21b: “Mar Zutra said, and some say Mar Ukva said: At first the Torah was given to Israel in Ivri script and in the holy tongue; it returned…” up to the Mishnah on the following page.
Also see the writings of Rabbi David Zvi Hoffmann; here is one source, for example: http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/Tanach/parshanut/radats-2.htm
But he has many more books and articles.
There is also tractate Soferim, about correcting according to the majority among three Torah scrolls.
Much success
I’d be glad for more detail regarding “to this very day” — what is the evidence for that?