Is There a Point in Buying a Torah if You Already Have a Bible with an Old Testament?

99 percent of Jews don't buy a Torah scroll, as they are handwritten and cost between 20–50 thousand dollars. Are they right to believe that a Torah scroll is unnecessary if you already own a Bible with the Old Testament (OT)? The answer depends on your purpose. While the Torah and the OT share many similarities, they are not the same book. Let's explore why a printed chumash might still be valuable, even if you already have a Bible with an OT.

Understanding the Chumash

When you say "buying a Torah," you might be referring to purchasing a printed book that contains the Five Books of Moses in both Hebrew and English translation. These books are commonly called a chumash. Here are some reasons to consider buying a chumash:

Accurate Translation and Commentary

A chumash is translated by someone well-versed in the original Hebrew text. Additionally, it comes with line-by-line notes, essays, and selected comments that help you understand the text. This commentary is invaluable for a deeper understanding of the chumash.

Visual Aids and Maps

A chumash often includes maps of the wilderness journey, sketches of the traveling sanctuary, and other visualization aids. These are useful for gaining a more complete understanding of the chumash.

Modern Jewish Context

Most religious Jews experience the Torah not by reading it straight through from beginning to end, but by proceeding from the first words of Genesis to the last of Deuteronomy and starting over each year. This approach is called parshiot, or weekly portions. A chumash will provide this structure, along with corresponding readings from the Haftarah, which are prophetic texts read on the same day as the weekly Torah portion. The Etz Hayim chumash, in particular, is recommended for its thoughtful use of commentary and its way of relating passages in the Torah to modern Jewish practices.

Torah vs. Old Testament: What's the Difference?

While the Torah and the OT share many texts, they are not the same. The Torah includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Pentateuch. However, the OT is a broader term that includes many other books in the Jewish canon, including the Haftarot, which are prophetic texts. Here's a breakdown of the key differences:

The Term Torah

The term Torah encompasses more than just the Five Books of Moses. It includes:

Oral Torah: This refers to the Oral Law, which was passed down orally by the rabbis and eventually written down in the Talmud, Midrash, and Mishnah. Treatises on Law and Ethics: This includes books like Sifra, Sifre, and other works that provide in-depth legal and ethical discussions based on the Torah. Rabbinical Commentary: This is the extensive rabbinical commentary and interpretation that has been developed over the centuries. Without this commentary, you are missing a significant portion of what is considered the Torah.

The Language and Context

The language in which the Torah is written is Hebrew, while the OT in its Christian version is often in English or other languages. The Hebrew text carries a different cultural and religious context, which can be lost in translation. For example, the Hebrew word qodesh carries a different sense in Jewish culture than the Greek hagios. Similarly, Greek words like hagios were translated into Latin, which further changes their meaning. This means that even an accurate translation might miss significant cultural and semiotic details.

Conclusion

While a Bible with the Old Testament can provide some of the texts in the Torah, it is not the same as a chumash or a handwritten Torah scroll. The chumash offers a more complete and contextual understanding of the Torah, with detailed commentary, visual aids, and a modern Jewish perspective. Whether you are a practicing Jew or simply curious about the Torah, a chumash can be a valuable addition to your library.

Key Takeaways:

The Torah is not the same as the Old Testament (OT). A chumash provides accurate translation, commentary, and cultural context. Even with an accurate translation, significant details might be missed due to different cultural and religious contexts.

Keywords: Chumash, Torah, Bible