I almost violated one of my own little personal online halacha. I do not post to women's blogs unless they are personal friends of my wife, and I know and am friends with the husband of the woman in question. I almost couldn't help it though, the title stood out to me. "Too Much Torah?"
I was intrigued. What could this possibly be about? She was referring to another BLOG she had been reading that asked the question "do we talk too much about the Torah and the commandments?" I wanted to respond to the BLOG right their and then with a resounding NO. Too much Torah? That's like saying "I have too much money", or "there is too much cheese on this pizza". Such a thing is simply not possible.
I even went so far as to read the responses to her post. I came to realise something from reading the responses. This is something that should have been obvious, but sometimes I miss the obvious. Not everyone has the same definition of Torah. I know, right. You see the definition of Torah that was handed down to me from the first Rabbi that showed me the path of Torah observance (Rabbi Ralph Messer) is far more complex then just the first five books of the OT.
What is the Torah? The simple answer is "teachings and instructions". It is often compared to a loving father teaching his son, in order that he grows to be a good man (and just like this metaphor the Father will often spank his son for not heading his teachings and instructions, no son likes being spanked, and most fathers don't enjoy doing the spanking, but it is often necessary). So then what exactly is the Torah? Is it just the Pentateuch? Is it the whole of the Tanach? Does it include the Gospels? How about the whole of the Brit Chadishah? Are the oral traditions passed down by the sages encompassed in this concept? Well for most of my readers the first four questions would be an easy yes. That last question can be a little tricky though can't it?
Does the Oral Torah fit within the concept of Torah as I have defined it? Are they the most highs teachings and instructions to his children? Well let us hear from the master himself on the matter. "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, 'The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.'" The modern rabbinic tradition is based on, and is the result of the teachings of these very scribes and pharisees. Does that mean we just go along with the teachings and traditions of the local chabad? (not knocking them by the way, their is a wealth of information in the Chabad movement. One would be a fool to throw away such jewels). You know Hashem would never let you off the hook that easy.
Again from the master, "But he answered and said unto them, 'Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition.'" OK, so what does this tell us? If there is a tradition that goes against the instructions of the Torah then we are to discard it. Is there anything else? Well if you continue on for the rest of the scripture I quoted in the previous paragraph Yeshua goes on to berate the scribes and Pharisees for following the minutia of the Torah without working out the spirit of the Law, what the master calls "the weightier [matters] of the law (Torah), judgment, mercy, and faith." When the oral law is used to separate the people of the Most High, or is used as an excuse to ignore injustice, or to keep from having to do a kindness for someone who is in need, then that tradition needs to be set aside.
As to the original question of how much Torah talk is too much, read the psalms to discover how much David, a man after Hashems own heart felt about the Torah. Or take the advice of Joshua the leader of all of Israel after the death of Moses, "This book of the Torah shall not leave your mouth; you shall meditate therein day and night."
One more point that I feel is important enough to continue on with the subject that I have already gone on waaayyyy too long about. Gentiles. We as followers of Yeshua do not have to follow the Torah...(pause for emphasis, and gasps from the messianic audience)... we get to. Why would I deny someone giving me a free gift that would lead to blessings in my life and the life's of my whole family. However, salvation does not come from our own actions, it is a free gift from the father through the son. Obeying Torah doesn't make you "more saved" or even "saved for real". It is simply a way to say I acknowledge that I am now part of the family to, and I want to make my Dad proud. You know I was proud of all of my children when they took their first steps. They didn't do it very well, and they fell more then they walked, but I was proud all the same. Think about that.
For more on this subject I highly recommend the following
http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/10/torah_does_not_mean_law.html
http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/09/an_unbearable_yoke_acts_1510.html
http://ffoz.org/blogs/2009/09/one_simple_verse.html
some food for thought.
Rabbi Simeon (ben Jochai) said:
"When three eat at one table and words of Torah are not spoken there, it is as if they ate at the altars of the dead, as it is said: "For all their tables are full of vomit and waste, there is no God" (Heb: maqom; lit: "place"). (Isa 28:8). But when three eat at one table and bring up words of Torah, it is as if they ate from the table of God (maqom), blessed be He!, as it is said: "And he said to me: This is the table that is before the LORD' (Ezek 41:22)."
Be blessed, Go study.
