Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Torah and Halachic Authority (3/12) Previous Document: Question 3.48: What is the Mekhilta on Deuteronomy? Next Document: Question 4.2: Traditionally, what are the levels of halacha? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge Answer: Halacha means "Way" or "Path". Halacha is the application of the Law (Torah) to everyday living. The traditional viewpoint is that Halacha should be decided by those who are most knowledgable in all aspects of Jewish law. Since the Halacha of each generation is decided by its greatest Torah scholars, and the Torah doesn't change, there is usually little change in the Halacha from one generation to the next. The development of Halacha is most evident when new situations arise for which rulings must be made, such as the destruction of the Temple, the development of electricity, and the increasing complexity of modern food processing technology. Since the non-traditional viewpoint is that the the Torah itself was written by people, both the interpretation of the Law and its application are re-evaluated in each generation, using the interpretations of the past to serve primarily as non-binding guidance in how to continue this process. Both viewpoints encourages all Jews to study halacha, and apply it to their daily lives in order that they be brought closer to G-d. User Contributions:Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Torah and Halachic Authority (3/12) Previous Document: Question 3.48: What is the Mekhilta on Deuteronomy? Next Document: Question 4.2: Traditionally, what are the levels of halacha? Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: SCJ FAQ Maintainer <maintainer@scjfaq.org>
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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