saidjake Wrote:In the Chumash, are the commentaries [explanations] by Rashi, Rambam, Ramban, Onkelos, etc. considered Oral Torah?
The explanations by Rashi, Rambam, Ramban, and other authoritative Rishonim and Acharonim Rabbis were universally accepted into the body of Oral Torah texts. What Onkelos provided was a translation of the Hebrew text into Aramaic.
saidjake Wrote: If so, how do we explain the different renderings on the same topic? Often times there will be a commentary followed by, "alternatively, ..." My mother-in-law is finding this to be inconsistency and I'm not sure how to answer as I can see her point.
Moses received and transmitted many different explicit and implicit interpretations from G-d for every word of the Chumash, each connected with the breadth and depth of the Divine Wisdom. These alternative interpretations are embodied within the four levels, or dimensions, of Torah knowledge, abbreviated as "PaRDeS."
"PaRDeS" [literally "orchard"] is the Hebrew acrostic for the names of the four dimensions of Torah wisdom, respectively:
P'shat - the simple meanings
Remez - the meanings hinted by analogies, numerical values, spellings of words etc.
D'rush - the homiletic meanings.
Sod - the "secret," i.e. kabbalistic, meanings.