Mishnah Walk is a community dedicated to authentic Torah observance, drawing from the timeless principles of Jewish tradition. We emphasize the core teachings of the Torah, Mishnah, and Talmud, while promoting unity, tolerance, and ethical living. Below, we outline our foundational beliefs.
Our Core Beliefs
At the heart of Mishnah Walk lies a deep commitment to Torah Judaism, reflected in these foundational principles:
God
The Oneness of God
God is One, without parts, internal division, or multiplicity. He is indivisible and absolute in His unity.
God’s Non-Physical Nature
God is not physical, nor is He subject to time, space, or location. His existence is not “concentrated” in any particular place, making it less present elsewhere, nor does He physically fill the universe such that any part of Him is contained within creation. While God shows mercy to those who sincerely struggle with this concept, individuals who do not grasp it should not serve as official representatives of Torah.
Prayer to God Alone
God alone is the Hearer of prayer. Directing prayers through intermediaries, including humans, ascribes a level of divinity to them, even if not explicitly named as such. We pray solely to God, without intermediaries.
Torah
Eternal Validity of the Torah Covenant
All stipulations and commandments of the Torah covenant remain in force for all generations, including those neglected for two thousand years. They are binding and unchanging.
Immutability of Torah
No one person, not a prophet, messiah, or even the greatest rabbi, can add to or subtract from the Torah’s commandments. No individual holds judicial or legislative authority over the entire People of Israel.
Leadership
Authority of the Sanhedrin
Only the rulings of the supreme Sanhedrin are universally binding on the Jewish people, as a direct Torah commandment. This is not merely for practical reasons but due to divine authorization. Local protocols or scholarly consensus do not carry the same universal weight.
Binding Nature of Hazal’s Legal Rulings
We accept the position of early Talmudic scholars, Ge’onim, and Rishonim that we are bound by the legal rulings of Hazal (our Sages of blessed memory). However, the Torah commandment to heed them does not require agreement with every non-legal opinion of any Sage, ancient or modern. We do not label someone a “heretic” for rejecting extreme views, such as eternal punishment for historical figures like Jesus, Muhammad, or Buddha.
The People
Jewish Indigenous Identity
The People of Israel are the only living indigenous people and ethnicity native to the Land of Israel. Denying the historical connection between Jews and Judea is a denial of Jewish identity itself.
Principles of Our Community
Living Micah 6:8
Act justly, cultivate a love for compassion and acts of kindness, and strive for humility before God and humanity. This includes avoiding justifications for mistreatment and adhering to the Torah’s most repeated command: not to mistreat orphans, widows, and newcomers, but to love and support them.
Prioritizing Ethics Over Ritual
We cherish the Torah’s rituals, both divinely commanded and rabbinically established, we believe they are binding and exist to deepen our ethical and virtuous living. If rituals ever overshadow compassion, we lovingly seek to realign them with Torah’s heart.
Keeping the Torah’s Core Principles Central
We regularly study the 613 commandments in concise form (e.g., Rambam’s list in Mishneh Torah) to stay focused on the covenant’s core principles and avoid losing sight of the broader principles amid detailed minutiae.
Embracing Sincere Dissent
Individuals are not in violation of the Torah covenant merely for disagreeing with mainstream views. As the Torah states, “Do not follow the majority to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). Dissent, when rooted in sincerity, does not equate to rebellion.
Fostering Unity in Diversity
Recognition as part of the community of Israel for those with differing opinions and practices, provided they do not violate Torah commandments or rebel against the Great Sanhedrin. Disagreement over interpretations or applications of the Sages’ words does not constitute rebellion.
Beliefs about non-core matters, such as human evolution from apes or trees, the literal formation of Adam from dirt (with relativistic time interpretations), angels having relations with humans, or even unconventional ideas like angels as “aliens” or a flat earth, do not render someone a heretic. As long as such beliefs do not add to or subtract from the Torah covenant, individuals remain fully part of the community, even if their ideas are not universally accepted.
Respecting Scholarship Without Infallibility
The necessity of scholarship and respect for scholarly consensus, even without a Great Sanhedrin, but without ascribing infallibility or universal authority to such consensus. True universal authority belongs only to the Great Sanhedrin when it convenes at the National Temple.
Equality Among Jews
Jews by birth and Jews by choice are equal, with no inherent superiority or inferiority. Treating converts with double standards or as lesser violates the Torah’s most repeated commandment.
Inclusion of Sincere Seekers
Those who have embraced the core principles of Torah should not be treated as regular non-Jews or pressured to adopt a Noahide path. We adhere strictly to the guidelines of our ancient Sages regarding acceptance and do not exceed them in discouraging sincere individuals.
Noahide Laws as Minimum Standard
The Noahide laws are a legitimate part of Torah Judaism, representing the bare minimum for human behavior—not an ideal or “Judaism lite” for non-Jews. Those seeking more should learn from Israelite scholars, either adopting permitted aspects of Torah without innovation or fully embracing the covenant by becoming Jews. We welcome sincere newcomers without delay, per the Sages’ guidelines.