Is the Oral Torah a rabbinic invention?

Rabino Rótem Tómer
Sep 19
2 min read

Human opinions or divine word?

We often hear the idea that the Oral Torah—the tradition passed down from generation to generation—is merely a collection of human opinions. It's compared to a democratic congress or a marketplace of ideas where the loudest voice wins. But is this really the case?

If the Oral Torah is questioned for being "human," the same could be said of the Written Torah, for it too was transmitted through Moses, a man born of both a father and a mother. The question then is: what difference does the revelation at Mount Sinai make?

An artistic recreation of Mount Sinai with the people of Israel standing before a resplendent divine light. — La revelación en el Monte Sinaí: un momento donde el cielo y la tierra se encontraron en palabras eternas.

Sinai: More than a Story

The Torah relates that the entire people of Israel heard God's voice directly in the first two commandments. The experience was so intense that their souls detached from their bodies, and the angels had to return them. It was then that they pleaded: "Speak to us, and we will listen; let not God speak to us, or we will die." With this acceptance, they recognized that Moses' words were, in fact, the word of God Himself.

Group of ancient Jewish sages studying and discussing the Torah by candlelight. — La Torá Oral se transmitió de generación en generación, a través del estudio y el debate de los sabios de Israel.

Oral Torah, living tradition, not invention

The Oral Torah was born alongside the Written Torah, as its explanation and commentary. Its purpose was always to be passed down from father to son, from teacher to student. But with the threat of the Roman Empire and the risk of oblivion, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi made the historic decision to compile it in writing, giving rise to the Mishnah.

It was not an open debate where anyone could express their opinion. Only sages dedicated to divine truth for life contributed their memories and their vision. Even when there were disagreements, such as the famous ones between the schools of Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, both positions were recognized as "words of the living God."

Symbolic illustration of two groups of wise men standing face to face, one illuminated in golden tones and the other in blue tones, united by a divine light. — Beit Shamai y Beit Hilel: dos visiones diferentes, reconocidas ambas como palabras del Dios viviente.

Two visions, one truth

How can opposing opinions be equally divine? Jewish mysticism teaches that the soul of every sage reflects an aspect of God:

Those who tended towards benevolence expressed divine goodness.
Those who were more rigorous expressed divine severity.

Thus, right and left do not contradict each other, but are complementary manifestations of the same origin.

What does it mean for us today?

Understanding that the Oral Torah is not a human invention, but a tradition inspired by God, invites us to value the depth of each teaching. It reminds us that not all opinions carry equal weight: truth requires dedication, humility, and continuity over time.

Rabbinic discussion is not a marketplace of voices, but a laboratory of souls seeking to reflect the eternal.