re: #555 Lynn B.

This is such a widespread misconception that I’m sure my puny little comment here will do nothing to contain it. But the position of traditional Judaism is and has always been that the first five books of the Hebrew Bible contain the exact word of God, dictated to Moses at Sinai. More recent liberal interpretations may vary.

Your comment is accurate and in no way puny. I’m quite certain that the Rabbi at my synagogue believes in the concept of Torah from heaven. In fact, there are some who would extend it to include the whole of the written Torah and some of the older parts of the Talmud. Dissenting views are present in the Conservative, Reform and Liberal movements. There was an interesting case in Britain in the 1950s when an orthodox Rabbi and a fine Talmudist published a book in which he questioned this doctrine. Some say it cost him the position of Chief Rabbi for which he was evidently a candidate. I had the privilege of attending one of his Talmud classes about 20 years ago. He was a tremendous scholar.