What is the best resource for helping Jews understand God's laws?

Answer 1

Vast numbers of books have been written on that subject, but the easiest approach would be to talk to your local rabbi.

Answer:

That depends. If you want to know the practical observance of the laws, the best place for an English speaker to begin could be the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, which has been translated into English at least three times. See the attached Related Link.

If you want to understand the verses themselves, a good place to start would be The Living Torah by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (Moznaim pub., 1981).

As the above answer states, nothing can fully substitute for interpersonal learning. There are Torah-classes just about everywhere that Jews live; and there are telephone-learning programs.

Answer 2

The Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Arukh), first published in 1566, which lists the laws of Judaism.

The founding sources, which include the Torah and the Talmud (Oral Law), are more important than the Code of Jewish Law, but they are also either too brief or too complex for the average Jew to use as a daily reference for Jewish law. The Torah-verses are brief and lack the details provided in the Talmud; and the Talmud is vast and complex.

See also:

The writings of Judaism