𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲?

A family can practice the Torah without a larger community, but they will face challenges. An individual can pursue the Torah alone, but they will lack an essential part of what the Torah is meant to cultivate—relationship, accountability, and shared purpose.

𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲

A family can maintain Torah observance in their home by keeping Shabbat, eating kosher (or biblically clean), celebrating the moedim, and teaching their children the ways of G-d (Deut. 6:7). A father can lead in study and prayer, and a mother can nurture the family in Torah values. In this way, the home becomes a 𝑚𝑖𝑘𝑑𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑚𝑒'𝑎𝑡—a small sanctuary. But without community, they miss the richness of corporate worship, shared responsibility, and the refinement that comes from dealing with others. Even in exile, Israel was not just individual families practicing the Torah—they formed communities wherever they went.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐫

An individual can certainly study the Torah, pray, and live a life that reflects obedience to G-d. Many prophets, from Moshe to Eliyahu, had seasons of isolation. Yeshua Himself withdrew for periods of fasting and prayer. But long-term isolation creates spiritual stagnation. Proverbs 18:1 warns, "𝐻𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑠 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒; ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑑𝑜𝑚." Torah is meant to be lived in relationship—with G-d and with others. The commandments about justice, charity, honesty in business, and community responsibility become theoretical without others to practice them with.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡: 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲

Torah is structured around communal life—Israel was commanded to live as a nation, not as scattered individuals. The Temple system, the judicial courts, the priesthood, and even the agricultural laws assume a collective structure. The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing the kehillah (community) as the body of Messiah, where each person plays a part (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

Yes, a family can practice Torah alone, and an individual can pursue it without a community. But neither will experience Torah in its fullness. Torah is about love—love for G-d and love for others. Love is not abstract; it requires people. If someone is in a place without a community, they should seek to build one, even if it starts with just one other person. If that is not possible, they should remain open to connection—online, through correspondence, or through occasional visits to larger gatherings. The goal is not just personal observance, but the restoration of G-d’s people as a goy kadosh (holy nation).