# S10, E8 In Pursuit of Knowing Hashem: Why Do We Need the Torah?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-sources-with-rabbi-shnayor-burton-1203468/s10-e8-in-pursuit-of-knowing-hashem-why-do-we-need-the-torah
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-sources-with-rabbi-shnayor-burton-1203468/s10-e8-in-pursuit-of-knowing-hashem-why-do-we-need-the-torah.md
Podcast: [The Great Sources with Rabbi Shnayor Burton](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-great-sources-with-rabbi-shnayor-burton-1203468)
Published: 2026-01-06T16:26:02+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shnayor-burton/episodes/S10--E8-In-Pursuit-of-Knowing-Hashem-Why-Do-We-Need-the-Torah-e3d8mii
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/fb5467c/podcast/play/113580050/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-0-6%2F415597912-44100-2-227d67ed557f.mp3
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Duration seconds: 4268

## Resource

In this conversation, Zev and I discuss what role the Torah plays in the pursuit of knowing Hashem 00:30 Why do we require the Torah for the pursuit of da'as Hashem? 9:00 Can a person achieve da'as Hashem without the Torah? 16:30 Is the Torah the exclusive method that brings to da'as Hashem? 18:00 What is the Torah and to what genre does it belong? 21:45 It is impossible to disentangle Jewish values from the Torah 30:30 The Torah's words, narratives and practices anchor a person in da'as Hashem 40:00 Does all da'as Hashem trace its roots to the Torah? 51:00 Torah as Law and its difference from the Prophets: https://www.ebay.com/itm/364132946794... https://open.substack.com/pub/shnayor/p/ee-and-r-3_1-between-the-torah-and?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web 52:00 Da'as Hashem is absent from the Torah; Moshe is higher than the prophets by virtue of his recognition that Hashem is actually unknowable 53:30 The Law as guardrails against absolute freedom of thought 54:45 We cannot and will not contemplate infinity, and therefore we need the finitude of the Law 56:00 Paradoxically, restrictions allow for freedom of thought 1:00:00 The Jewish People is the greatest mitzvah 1:05:00 Summary of how the Torah serves da'as Hashem

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