Wisdom In The Torah | Bible Philosophy To Life's Hard Questions | Aleph Beta | Aleph Beta

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Torah Wisdom

The Bible's Approach to Life's Big Questions

The Bible is well known for its dramatic stories and detailed laws, but not as much for its penetrating philosophical insights. Don't let that fool you, though – in its own, subtle way, the Torah contains profound ideas about life, the universe, and everything in between. See for yourself in some of the courses below.

Wisdom In The Torah

Many people looking for answers to life's big questions would probably turn to the Torah at some point. After all, what better place to find enlightenment than in the wisdom of the Bible, right? Yet when you think about Judaism, it can seem like it's less aboutwisdomor deep philosophical insights, and more about commandments, holidays, history and community – and food, of course. So, is the Torah the right place to go for your big existential needs? Does it say anything about the meaning of life? Or the true nature of goodness, or happiness? What about the way we're supposed to understand science and religion in light of one another? Are any of these topics really a part of the tradition of Jewish wisdom?

As it turns out, they are. You just have to know where and how to look. The Torah is not just an arbitrary collection of stories and laws – it's a guidebook to life, even in the 21st century. All of the stories of the Patriarchs and ancient Israelites, all the technical laws about purity and property and dietary restrictions – they each tell us something critical about how to make sense of the world around us. The Torah actually has a lot to say about the big questions; you just might not find it in the form or the place you'd expect.

On this page, you can find courses about some of the Torah's possible insights into life's great mysteries. Check them out and see what Biblical wisdom can teach us.