"For Instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." -- Isaiah 2:3

Jerusalem

Torah Verses

Excerpt Sources

Complete List of Source Books

Navigate the Excerpts Browser

Before accessing the excerpts, please review a word about copyright.

Are you more of an "I'll dive right in and figure it out" person, or a "Show Me How This Thing Works" person?  If the former, go right ahead and try the excerpts browers on the right side of this page and/or scroll through the excerpts that start below the following information -- although we still suggest reading the information first.  If you are the latter, click here for a video demonstrating the Excerpts Browser. Either way (or both), enjoy! 

This page is recommended for searches limited to specific Torah books, weekly portions (parshiot), chapters, verses, and/or sources (authors). For keyword and/or for exact phrase (including verse and source) searches of the entire excerpts database, we recommend using the Search Engine page.  For broadest results, use both pages and alternative search strategies. 

This page displays the full text of all or "sorted" (filtered) excerpts in the database.  Use the "Torah Verses" and/or "Excerpt Sources" browsers at the right to locate the excerpts associated with your desired Torah book, portion, chapter. verse, or author.  Or, simply scroll through the excerpts, using the "boxes" at the bottom of any page displaying excerpts to "jump" ahead or back. 

Also note that immediately below the chapter, verse, and keyword of each excerpt is a highlighted line comprised of multiple links.  Clicking on any of the links will limit (filter) the excerpts display to the selected category.  

Transcription of excerpts is incomplete.  For current status, please see "Transcribed Sources" on the Search Engine page.  To assist with completion, please see "Contributors" page. 

DEUTERONOMY — 17:11 deviate

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9), Source Book Keys, CHINUCH
Page(s): 321-2
DEUT879 Do not deviate from the words of the Torah authorities of your generation. People's ideas, outlooks and ways of thinking differ greatly, and the areas of disagreement are countless. Regarding many matters, never will there be a meeting of the minds. Hashem knew that if each individual would be allowed to interpret the Torah according to his way of thinking, the number of disputes would be so great, it would create an impossible situation. For this reason, He commands us to listen to and not swerve from the teachings of our Sages, for they received the true interpretation of the Torah orally and passed it onwards to the next generation, so that it would be preserved. Similarly, He commands us to not swerve from the teachings of the greatest Torah luminaries of each generation, for they possess the true tradition as to what the Torah means, having learned it from their predecessors. When new issues arise and it is necessary to determine the Torah ruling on the matter, these luminaries toil over the questions day and night, drawing upon their deep and expansive knowledge of the Torah and the teachings of their predecessors. Thereby, they arrive at the truth. By accepting their decisions, we will understand and fulfill the Torah properly. If we do otherwise, following our own weak minds and relying upon our sparse knowledge of the Torah, we will dismally fail on every front. In fact, say our Sages, even if the leading Torah scholars of the generation say that left is right and right is left, we are forbidden to deviate from their teachings, or even if they are mistaken about any particular issue, it is counter-productive to dispute them. Better to adhere to their mistaken ruling in one matter and leave the entire Torah to them to interpret as they see it. Better that than to leave each individual to interpret the Torah as he sees it, for that scenario would spell immediate ruin for our whole way of life. The task of determining the true meaning of the Torah must be left to our nation's wise men. In addition, when they meet to decide such matters, they are commanded to follow the decision of the majority.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 17:11 deviate

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9), Source Book Keys, TZADIK
Page(s): 261
DEUT881 It is written (Mishlei 8:32): "And now, children, listen to me, and happy are those who heed my ways." The Blessed Creator says to Israel: "I ask only that you listen to me. If you listen to me, I will fulfill what was foretold by the prophets (Yeshayahu 1:19): 'If you are willing, and listen, then you will eat the good of the land,' and (Mishlei 8:34): 'Happy is the man who listens to me.'" Therefore, one should direct his mind to do the will of the Blessed Creator and not deviate from his teachers and from those who are greater than he. And so it is written in the Torah (this verse; Devarim 17:9-12). From all this we can recognize the goodness and greatness of the trait of willingness, in which all the Torah is subsumed. Even if the Sages tell you that left is right and right, left, acquiesce and listen to them, and annul your mind and your will in order to do as they say. How much more so when they tell you that right is right and left, left.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

DEUTERONOMY — 17:11 turn

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Deuteronomy, Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-DEUT
Page(s): 158
DEUT885 Great is human dignity, which overrides a negative commandment in the Torah. Which is that? Rav b. R. Sheva explicated in the presence of R. Cahana: The negative commandment, "You shall not turn aside" [i.e., Where abiding by a Rabbinical injunction would undermine human dignity, the injunction is overridden] (Berachoth 19b)

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

RSS
12357891011121314151617181920Last
Back To Top