Messianic Judaism Quest

The Rabbis claim that the authority to interpret the implementation of the mitvoth and subsequently define halakhah (i.e. the way in which the commandments are observed) is found in the written Torah itself, where Moshe Rabbenu states that any case or question too difficult for the Jewish people in future days should be brought before the priests and judges in office at that time. See Deuteronomy 17:8-10.

We might simply this argument by using the following illustration. In one sense, the Torah provides the constitution for Israel. Like the Constitution of the United States, the actual implementation of its statutes are left to the Congress and the validity of those laws was left to the courts.

Those properly trained in the Written and Oral Torah would correctly interpret the issues in question and apply them to constantly changing circumstances and conflicts.

We should understand that these interpretations and decisions would have been adopted over time and been considered as the normative means by which to observe the mitzvoth. The Talmud relates to us the tradition concerning the transmission of the Oral Torah in the tractate entitled Pirkei Avot, the Sayings of the Fathers:

“Moses received the Torah at Sinai and handed it to Joshua, who gave it to the Elders. The Elders gave it to the Prophets who handed it down to the men of the Great Assembly. Simon the Just was the last survivor of the Great Assembly ans said three things: Be deliberate in Judgment, Raise up many disciples, and build a fence around the Torah.”

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