Torah

Torah

The Torah (________, "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the central reference of the religious Judaic tradition. It has a range of meanings. It can most specifically mean the first five books (Pentateuch) of the Hebrew Bible. It usually includes the rabbinic commentaries (the Talmud and the Midrash). The term "Torah" means instruction and offers a way of life for those who follow it. It can also mean the continued narrative from the Book of Genesis to the end of the Tanakh, and it can even mean the totality of Jewish teaching, culture, and practice.

Structure and Content

The Torah consists of the following five books:

1. Genesis (___________, Bereshit)
2. Exodus (_______, Shemot)
3. Leviticus (__________, Vayikra)
4. Numbers (___________, Bamidbar)
5. Deuteronomy (_________, Devarim)

These books are also known as the Pentateuch, and they are traditionally ascribed to Moses.

Historical Context

The Torah is traditionally believed to have been given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. However, modern scholarship often considers the Torah to be a product of multiple authors and redactors over centuries. The Documentary Hypothesis is one such theory that suggests the Torah was derived from originally independent, parallel, and complete narratives, which were subsequently combined into the current form by a series of redactors.

Religious Significance

In Judaism, the Torah is the foundation of all Jewish law and practice. It is read publicly over the course of a year in weekly portions known as parashot. The Torah is also central to the synagogue service, where it is read from a handwritten scroll.

Interpretation and Commentary

The Torah has been subject to extensive commentary and interpretation. The Talmud and Midrash are key texts that provide rabbinic interpretations of the Torah. The Mikraot Gedolot is a collection of commentaries on the Hebrew Bible, including the Torah.

Related Pages

• Talmud
• Midrash
• Tanakh
• Judaism
• Moses

Gallery

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  Page pointers for reading the Torah
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  Torah scroll at Beth Yaacov
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  Diagram of the Modern Documentary Hypothesis
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  Diagram of the Supplementary Hypothesis
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  Illustration from the Bible in Pictures
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  Torahs in Istanbul Ashkenazi Synagogue
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  Torah scroll with the name of God
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  Open Torah case with scroll
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  Mikraot Gedolot in Yiddish
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  Samaritan Torah on Mount Gerizim

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