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Judaism And Judaism

Decent Essays

Judaism is one of the world’s oldest religions that is still actively practiced to this day. Yet Judaism comprises of not only a religion, but also a way of life with several comprehensive laws to follow. The major aspects of which these laws are based on are the Written Torah and Oral Torah. The Oral Torah, also known as the Oral Law, explains how to interpret and apply the Written Torah. These once unwritten laws have been passed down throughout multiple generations. From the beginnings of the Oral Torah, to its development throughout history and contribution to Jewish tradition today, the Oral Torah is very significant in understanding how Judaism has grown throughout history.
Thousands of years ago, Moses received many laws from God that he did not write down. These laws were passed down solely through oral tradition until around the 2nd century C.E., when Rabbi Judah the Prince, wrote down the Oral Law (“Judaism: The Oral Law – Talmud & Mishna.”). These laws were preferably not to be written down, as rabbis believed that teachers provided a more compelling way to convey Jewish tradition. Additionally, their rich and extensive oral tradition unifies and distinguishes Jews as being God’s chosen people. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel’” (New International Version, Exodus 34:27). However, with the decline of knowledgeable Jews in times of persecution, Rabbi Judah

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