Saying that "fences" can be put around the Torah, however, also suggests that such additions are not necessarily from G-d. Therefore, it is not absolutely right or wrong to follow those fences. According to my reading of Deuteronomy 4:2 "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor shall you subtract from it, to observe the commandments of Hashem, your God, that I command you." and 13:1 "The entire word that I command you, that shall you observe to do; you shall not add to it and you shall not subtract from it." To follow additional guidelines isn't inherently wrong, but it would be against the Torah to say that they are mandated by G-d. --Gracie

Answer:

You are correct that we cannot claim these 'fences' are from G-d, which is why Jewish law is clear about them being 'fences' and not part of the 613 commandments which are from G-d. On the other hand, G-d also requires us to abide by the fences that the Sages created, and therefore, we must live according to these 'fences'¹ .

As as example, if you were fined for a traffic violation, could you object and say the Constitution makes no mention of traffic laws? Yet, the Constitution relies upon the judicial courts to protect each person's right to live (the reason for creating traffic laws). So, in fact, these traffic 'fences' which we must abide by, are in order to uphold the Constitution, and we are likewise, obliged to abide by the courts' application of these 'fences'.