Torah, therefore, should not be understood as a complete, finished system. Belief in the giving of the Torah at Sinai does not necessarily imply that the full truth has already been given and that our task is only to unfold what was already present in the fullness of the founding moment of revelation. Sinai gave the community a direction, an arrow pointing toward a future filled with many surprises. Halakhah, which literally means “walking,” is like a road that has not been fully paved and completed. The Sinai moment of revelation, as mediated by the ongoing discussion in the tradition, invites one and all to acquire the competence to explore the terrain and extend the road. It does not require passive obedience and submission to the wisdom of the past.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What is Hartman's criticism here?
2. What role does social justice have in the continuing path forward?
3. What are come contemporary justice issues that did not exist 100 years ago? How are we meant to navigate our way to dealing with them while still being in line with Torah and mitzvot?
Time Period: Contemporary (The Yom Kippur War until the present-day)