However, I would like to share some notes I wrote awhile back on why I am drawn to read and study the Talmud.
I find it:
- a work of unimaginable dedication and commitment to God.
- a work focused on the particular day-to-day, moment-to-moment elements that make up life (obviously also many moments that don't make up my life -- temple sacrifices, etc.). It truly seems to avoid abstraction and focus on the particular.
- a work that accepts discord and multi-valent views of the world.
- a work that is basically INFINITE in its scope and depth and diversity.
- a work that stimulates intense interest today and has for 1500 years.
- a work that connects to the past and holds within it the explanations and explorations of God's will that have continued for over 2000 years.
- a work that can help me focus on and recognize the ever-present nature of God.
- a work of great creativity and imagination that can help stretch my mind.
- a work of which the study is a holy possibility and opportunity.
- a work that screams, shouts, contemplates and argues this basic fact -- "We are commanded!" This is something I deeply believe.
- a work large enough (a true sea) to welcome even an outsider in, who simply wants to enter and learn out of love
1 comment:
Your points are awesome in their insights. They help me
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