09-21-2008, 12:47 AM
Shlama Spyridon,
The "law" that they are claiming to follow in every detail does not refer to the Tanakh (Old Testament) / Torah ("Law"). The "law" that they are claiming to follow in every detail, is the Talmudic law. Technically it should be rendered lower-case "torah" ("law"), but to the Orthodox and especially Ultra-Orthodox, there is an invariable reference to Talmudic law as "Torah" (or, "Law"). Once this is understood, then things start getting cleared up a whole lot. This used to be a confusion of mine, as well. This "law" is what Yeshua (Jesus) referred to in the Gospels, and often times the Apostle Paul as well, as being the "traditions of the elders" and the "learned commandments of men", etc. It was in Yeshua's day still not yet codified on paper; it was known as the "oral torah", as received along with the Written Torah, from God through Moses, at Mt. Sinai. This is what the NT also refers to as a legend/story/folklore/fable of the Jews; no such historical event is recorded in, nor even hinted at, in the Written Scriptures. "Stoning" is a question that the Written Law directly addresses, although the now-written "oral law" (a paradox, don't ya think?!) is amongst other things like a massive commentary on the Written Scriptures, and delves into many issues such as these, at length. But the short answer is, Orthodox and even Ultra-Orthodox Jews do not today practice stoning, of anyone.
Hope this helps,
Brother Ryan
The "law" that they are claiming to follow in every detail does not refer to the Tanakh (Old Testament) / Torah ("Law"). The "law" that they are claiming to follow in every detail, is the Talmudic law. Technically it should be rendered lower-case "torah" ("law"), but to the Orthodox and especially Ultra-Orthodox, there is an invariable reference to Talmudic law as "Torah" (or, "Law"). Once this is understood, then things start getting cleared up a whole lot. This used to be a confusion of mine, as well. This "law" is what Yeshua (Jesus) referred to in the Gospels, and often times the Apostle Paul as well, as being the "traditions of the elders" and the "learned commandments of men", etc. It was in Yeshua's day still not yet codified on paper; it was known as the "oral torah", as received along with the Written Torah, from God through Moses, at Mt. Sinai. This is what the NT also refers to as a legend/story/folklore/fable of the Jews; no such historical event is recorded in, nor even hinted at, in the Written Scriptures. "Stoning" is a question that the Written Law directly addresses, although the now-written "oral law" (a paradox, don't ya think?!) is amongst other things like a massive commentary on the Written Scriptures, and delves into many issues such as these, at length. But the short answer is, Orthodox and even Ultra-Orthodox Jews do not today practice stoning, of anyone.
Hope this helps,
Brother Ryan