The Bible has been studied through the eyes of traditional rabbinic commentaries throughout the centuries. In the last two hundred years, Biblical scholars have claimed that the Bible was authored by multiple authors long after he events that are described. This lecture will examine the story of Sinai and will compare the reading of the chapters in the Book of Shemot as explained through the eyes of the traditional commentaries and through the eyes of the modern Biblical scholars. We will also explore how contemporary Orthodox scholars have addressed the Documentary Hypothesis.

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The Book of Devarim poses serious questions for both traditional commentators and Bible Scholars. Devarim begins with the statement that "these are the words of Moshe". Did God dictate these words to Moshe or did Moshe write these words on his own? This lecture will explore the ways in which the traditional commentators address this issue. It will also present the view of the Bible Scholars who claim that the Book of Devarim was composed at a later date.
 

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The Talmud argued that anyone who does not believe that the entire Torah was written by Moshe is considered as ridiculing God. Yet, there are several verses in the Torah that appear to have been written at a period later than Moshe's time. This lecture will explore the commentary of the ibn Ezra on a number of these verses and will examine two super commentaries on the ibn Ezra that attempt to reconcile the ibn Ezra's commentary with the traditional view of Moshe's authorship of the Torah. Finally, we will analyze the Song of the Sea as another potential chapter that was written after Moshe's time.
 

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Orthodox theology today teaches that the text of the Torah that we have today is exactly the same text of the Torah that
was given by God to Moshe on Mt. Sinai. Is this really true? This ecture will examine the evolution of the history of the Torah text beginning with the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls, continuing through the talmudic period and culminating in the creation of the first Rabbinic Bible in 1525 in Venice. The story of the text of the Torah contains many twists and turns and may have some surprising conclusions.

 

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While Jewish tradition has always emphasized the sanctity of the Biblical text, the rabbinic tradition, that often contradicts the
literal meaning of the Torah, has defined religious practice and observance throughout the ages. This lecture will explore four
explanations for the relationship between the rabbinic interpolation of the Biblical texts and their literal meaning. Each explanation
reflects the tension between the religious obligation to observe the law while at the same time the need to respect the sanctity of the Biblical text.
 

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