The Way Into Torah

Rabbi Cohen does not go into an analysis of the substantive content of the Torah. Rather, he defines what Torah is, who should study it, and what the levels of meaning are. Torah, in its narrowest sense, comprises the first five Books of the Tanach. It is what is sometimes referred to as the Pentatuch. Torah study is broader in that the entire Bible or Tanach is Torah study. Commentaries also constitute Torah study since tradition has it that oral, as well as written Torah was revealed on Mount Sinai. Commentaries and oral Torah are often set forth in Talmud. In the broadest sense, Any sincere study of Judaism is Torah study. The study of Torah is for everyone. Rabbi Cohen cites a tradition that each should study to his or her ability. Some, particularly children, may not be able to see much beyond the Biblical stories. On the other end of the spectrum, each word in the entire Tanach is considered by some to be coded. Thus, the words are cross referenced and parsed in order to discover mystical meanings that are not readily apparent. The levels of Torah study are the plain meaning of the written words of the Torah, allegorical interpretation which use the words for deeper meanings, midrash which are tales and stories that fill in the gaps of the text but have no direct support in the written text, and mystical interpretation. Torah study is a lifetime endeavor. You are never finished with your study. The more you study, the more you discover and study may lead you into the deeper levels set forth above. This book is a wonderful introduction and I highly recommend it.

As others have noted, The Way Into Torah provides a very accessible introduction to Torah study. Dr. Cohen does a masterful job of explaining basic terms and concepts without talking down to the reader, and covers quite a bit of material in this rather short book. I have only one complaint. Although Dr. Cohen acknowledges that the Torah consists of much more than the Chumash (and uses the Midrash Rabbah extensively throughout the book), he barely mentions the two extra-biblical works that have been at the heart of Torah study for centuries -- the Mishnah and the Talmud. Perhaps the decision to more or less ignore the Talmud was based on a judgment that beginners should begin with the more familiar, and in some sense "easier," Chumash. If that judgment was made, however, I would have liked to have seen it spelled out in the text, with at least enough information provided about the Talmud to whet the student's appetite for more.Nevertheless, if you are considering starting out on a program of Torah study, this is an excellent place to get your bearings. Dr. Cohen not only provides the basic information you need, but also explains why Torah study is important and how it can transform our lives. His love of Torah study comes across on every page, and he succeeds in making the reader want to share that experience. If all sermons were this good, you would already be studying Torah and wouldn't need this book. Until that day comes, this book ably fills the gap in both information and inspiration.

The Way Into Torah is a superbly written, highly accessible introduction for the general reading seeking guidance on how to effectively read, study, and understand the Torah, including the other books of the Bible and the related sacred texts that grew up around it. Norman Cohen is Rabbi and Professor of Midrash at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, and brings his expertise and experience to bear in presenting just what the Torah is and how it came about, the different approaches to studying the Torah, the various levels of understanding the Torah, and what the Torah study is an essential aspect of the Jewish experience. The Way Into Torah is an ideal beginning point for commencing a personal study of the Torah.

As I child, I was taught a bit about the Bible, but not muchof it stuck. As an adult, bouncing from teacher to teacher, tradition to tradition, I have never really come back to trying to open the Bible and understand what it might mean for me. I can tell you that this book is a great entry to getting started. I found it very helpful in the ways it is organized, and full of insights.Highly recommended.