SOURCE: "The Torah and the Jewish People" in The "Torah:" A Modern Commentary, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 1981, pp. xxix-xxxvi.

In the following excerpt, Bamberger explores the role of the Torah in forming the Jewish community.

The Torah was always the possession of all Israel. It was addressed to the entire people, who were to learn its contents and teach them diligently to their children. A number of biblical passages, in particular Psalms 19 and 119, testify to the love which the Torah evoked and the widespread concern of the people with its teachings.

The Book of Nehemiah (chs. 8-10) reports a public reading of the Torah in Jerusalem, probably in the year 444 B.C.E. This reading was conducted by Ezra the Scribe, with the aid of assistants who were to make sure that all those present heard and understood what was read to them. A few days later...