The Scope of Torah – Aggadah, Normativity, Madda
Torah is simultaneously one of the most important conceptions in Judaism and one whose scope is extremely difficult to define. Does it mean “a teaching”? The Five Books of Moses? A ruling? Any Jewish content, whether normative, interpretive, or otherwise? Can secular knowledge be seen as part of the scope of Torah? This question is much debated and reflects a variety of conceptions of Torah and of Judaism as a whole. This series explores this question head-on, exploring a range of possible meanings of Torah as well as the ramifications of defining the term one way or another. During the transitional time leading up to Shavuot, we will explore these questions, aiming to better appreciate what Torah can be.