Jews: Do you read the Hebrew Bible literally, or allegorically?

Question

Or both at different times? If so, how do you differentiate the implied meaning of the text?

Answer 1

Its not that simple :D

When stidying the Tanach (what you refer to as the hebrew bible), it is studied on multiple levels.
1) Pshat- the plain, simple meaning. And nope- that doesn't imply its easy... This includes the halachic (Jewish law) implications- since a word can have a different legal meaning to its simple meaning.
2) Remes - the implied meanings behind the words- including gematria (letters= numbers in hebrew- thus the numbers of words relate to other words, passages etc)
3) Drash- the midrashic interpretations - midrash are some of the oral stories and interpretations and include both allegorical stories and halachic interpretations.
4) Sod- secret, nowadays more often called Kabbalah. The hidden and deeper spiritual insights behind the text.

Answer 2

We do so at different times. During Daven(Prayer) and Torah study we read it literal. But during study the Talmud helps us sort every sentence meaning by meaning. Many places of institutes called Yeshivah(Yeshivot) have students who spend most of there time study Torah and Talmud.This is very well know in Orthodox circles but is becoming more popular in Conservative Judaism that has Yeshivots for men and women.

Answer 3

Dragonfly, you in basic terms approximately spoke back your person question once you quoted people who think of they comprehend the Torah as objecting to disagreements approximately interpretation: "they're normally in direct conflict of words with one yet another and somtimes with the Torah itself." it is greater suitable than purely lame grievance, that's tell-tale evidence of the actual schedule. under what circumstances might desire to all and sundry have the only answer, THE doctrine occasion line? undergo in innovations the Inquisition, persecution of religious practices different than state sanctioned ones, accusing the competition of "killing G-d" (as though G-d might desire to be killed)?. Insistence on one occasion line, on one and in basic terms one interpretation, implies the actual element is controling how human beings think of. further, very own or community extensive insults, like lots of those above, are implanted interior the text fabric to attempt intimidate. that's a private attack whilst the certainty does not artwork. Such attitudes are risky as a results of fact they seem for to regulate and injury human beings's souls with (incorrect) suggestions approximately G-d extremely than earnestly finding for G-d. Such attitudes additionally show a decrease point of religious adulthood whilst they admit that they can't conceive of organic and healthy conflict of words the place the two factors have factors and can with the aid of verbal exchange and communicate come to a synergistic and fuller information. that distinctive form of Christianity does not artwork except they are in a position to interchange our Sciptures and archives of G-d with theirs. There are historic reasons that don't particularly have lots to do with faith or G-d.

Answer 4

Most religious Jews don't read the Bible.
However In the Torah I think besides the history, it's mostly applied as allegorical. I can't make a blanket statement about this, but my family and the synagogue I went to ( around thirty separate ones ) were for the most part like that.

Answer 5

Half and half, and often the wrong half. I am a believer.