Hebrew Word Studies Keep

Most people use the word "keep", as in "which commands shall we keep" as if the word "keep" means to "obey". The Hebrew word is "Shamar" and does not mean "obey". Let me give you an example; the Aaronic Blessing says "May the L-rd bless you and keep (shamar) you". If we use the word "obey" for the Hebrew word "shamar" we have "may the L-rd bless you and obey you". As you can see, the word Shamar does not mean "obey". So what does it mean?
The word shamar is actually "a corral made of thorns". When the ancient Hebrew shepherds were out over night with their flocks, they would build a corral of Thorn bushes to keep the wolves and other night creatures away. This was a "Shamar". This corral was seen as a gaurdian to care for the sheep. When this word is used as in the Aaronic blessing it means "may the L-rd gaurd, protect and cherish you". When the word is used in a passage like "Keep (shamar) the commands of G-d", it means "gaurd, protect and cherish the commands of G-d".
There are some commands in the Torah that we cannot obey. For example the Torah says to "build a fence around the roof of your house". Our roofs today and the roofs of ancient Israel are very different and served different funtions. We do not need to put a fence around our roof today becuase we dont sleep up there. Does this mean that I cannot keep the command? No, I can still keep that command even if I don't "do" the command.
Of course, doing the commands that one is able to do, is as important and is part of the keeping of the commands. It must also be understood that the Torah was given to a nation, a community of people. While I may not be able to "do" all of the commands, others in the community can and will. Since the Torah is for the community, the keeping of the Torah is also the responsibility of the community. The individual keeps the Torah through a community effort.
So, to the question "which commands do you keep?" I would answer "all of them, I guard, protect and cherish every word of G-d in His book and as part of a community we keep all of the Torah".
Rav Shaul (Paul), knowing what it means to "keep the Torah" could say "I have done nothing wrong against the Torah" (Acts 25.8).
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