The Seventy Faces of Torah: The Jewish Way of Reading the Sacred Scriptures

by Stephen M. Wylen

Judaism, Christianity and Islam all acknowledge the Hebrew Bible to be sacred Scripture. And yet these different, and often contradictory, religions each has its own way of reading the Bible, interpreting it according to its own later sacred literature. In The Seventy Faces of Torah, Rabbi Stephen Wylen has written an important book that explains in clear and simple language the Jewish art of reading and interpreting the Bible. He introduces the reader to the major texts and genres of rabbinic literature in which the Jews discover 70 profound insights in every single verse of the Bible. Many Christians mistakenly think of Judaism as the "religion of the Old Testament," and wonder why Jews persist in their ancient faith and, unlike Christians, do not find Christ in every verse of the Bible. And how can such different religions be based on the same holy book? As Rabbi Wylen explains, Jews interpret the Bible in accordance with their own sacred literature, much as Christians do with the New Testament. These written scriptures of Judaism (such as The Talmud and Mishnah) are distinct from "Torah," the divine voice which speaks anew every day whenever Jews gather to learn the sacred texts of Jewish tradition. This book will be of interest to a wide audience, from Christian clergy and seminarians, and avid lay students of the Bible, to beginning rabbinical students, Jews who want to know more about their own tradition, and to all people who wonder what the Bible has to say to contemporary humanity. Rabbi Wylen also sheds new light on the conflict between religious modernism and Fundamentalism, which will make The Seventy Faces of Torah a valuable book for Bible study groups in churches and synagogues. †

Genres: Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Stephen Wylen is a rabbi, author, and educator dedicated to Jewish scholarship and community leadership. Ordained in 1980 after studying at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, he has served in various congregations across the United States, including Seattle, Huntington, Scranton, Wayne, and several interim positions before joining CKI in 2018. A passionate teacher, he has authored several books on Judaism, including Settings of Silver, The Book of the Jewish Year, and The Jews in the Time of Jesus. Believing in the synagogue as the heart of Jewish life, he seeks to make Jewish teachings accessible to a broad audience.

Reviews

[KIERAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the religious education system of Judaism, as well as an insightful book about Judaism in general.

[Ambrose Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a book that would do three things. First, introduce me to the various types of Jewish literature (Torah, Mishnah, Midrash, etc.) in a way that as a Christian I could understand. Second, explain how Judaism view its sacred text in relation to ideas like inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility. Third, expose me to some of the great thinkers and the ideas of the great rabbis.

This book did all three and did them all well. Its a book I'll go back to again and again as a reference. There's a lot of information here!