Sacred Texts
Judaism is often referred to as one of the religions of the book. This is because the majority of its beliefs systems, rituals and ethical practices are derived from a sacred text, which is similar to that of Christianity and Islam. In the case of Judaism, the main sacred text is the Torah, which corresponds to the first five books of the Christian Bible. The Torah is also known as the Pentateuch. Torah is a hebrew word, meaning 'teaching' or 'doctrine'. It is a somewhat ambiguous term. Some take the Torah to mean just the first five books of the Bible, whilst others take it to mean the Pentateuch as well as Jewish law from other sources. The most common definition is that there is both a written and an oral Torah. The oral Torah consists of the other Jewish sacred texts, most notably the Talmud.
Traditionally, the Torah is said to have been dictated by God to Moses. Although some scholars challenge that authenticity of this claim, it is meant to be more symbolic than literal. The message of this account of the origins of the Torah is that it is the word of God, and has been an essential part of Jewish life for a long period of their history. The first five books of the Torah are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Hebrew these are Bereishith, Shemoth, Vayiqra, Bamidbar and Devarim. Each of these deals with a different subject matter.
Genesis ('Origin') deals with the creation of the world by God in seven days. The way in which this creation occurs is not meant to be literal, but rather symbolic of how God created everything in the universe. It also deals with the Great Flood, God's Covenant with Abraham, and the entrance of the Jews intro Egypt.
Exodus ('Going Out') tells of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the promise land (Canaan or modern Israel and Palestine). It also details the life of Moses, and the deliverance of the Ten Commandments to Moses atop Mt. Sinai. God's Covenant with the Jewish people is again reaffirmed in Exodus.
Leviticus ('Levites', the tribe from which priests were drawn) deals with the role of holy men in society, and sets out the laws about living and religious practices that Jews must follow. Much of Jewish religious practice is derived from Leviticus.
Numbers tells of God's punishment of the Israelites for their lack of faith and refusal to take control of Canaan. It also deals with the organisation of Jewish society.
Deuteronomy (Second Law) deals with the laws that govern society and religious practices. It is written as three sermons delivered before the Israelites enter Canaan. Along with Leviticus, it is the major source of Jewish religious and ethical practices
These five books together make up the Torah, and the basis of the Jewish religion. They also serve as a somewhat historical account of the origins of the Jewish people. In this way the Jewish sacred texts are even more significant, as they tell of both their history and their religious customs.
The other Jewish sacred texts, known as the oral Torah, expand upon the practices and guidelines outlined in the written Torah. The most prominent component of the oral Torah is the Talmud.
The Talmud is considered to be the second most sacred text of Judaism. It is made up of two component parts; the Mishnah and the Gemara. It deals with Jewish teachings on ethics, customs, practices, laws and religious beliefs. It is the compilation of all major Rabbi made laws, as distinguished from the laws made by God in the Torah.
The Mishnah is a debate on the laws of Judaism, which govern what a Jew can and cannot do. The most commonly debated topics are the 613 Halachah, which are commandments on how a Jewish person should live. These Halachah are the basis of Jewish law and ethical practices. The Mishnah presents the opinion of various Rabbis, collectively known as Tannaim, on various subjects. It is divided into six sections: Zeraim (Seeds), Moed (Festivals) Nashim (Women) Kodashim (Holies) and Teherot (Purities)
Zeraim deals with Jewish dietary practice, outlining which foods are kosher and which are not.
Moed deals with the various Jewish festivals and holidays, as well as what an observant Jew should do during these events.
Nashim discusses the laws surrounding marriage and sexuality
Kodashim discusses religious practices and ceremonies
Teherot discusses cleanliness and purity.
The Gemara ('completion') forms a discussion and commentary on the Mishnah. It primarily consists of legal discussion on the practices stated in the Mishnah.
These sacred texts form the basis of the Jewish religion, outlining its core beliefs, as well as its laws, rituals and ethical practices.
Traditionally, the Torah is said to have been dictated by God to Moses. Although some scholars challenge that authenticity of this claim, it is meant to be more symbolic than literal. The message of this account of the origins of the Torah is that it is the word of God, and has been an essential part of Jewish life for a long period of their history. The first five books of the Torah are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In Hebrew these are Bereishith, Shemoth, Vayiqra, Bamidbar and Devarim. Each of these deals with a different subject matter.
Genesis ('Origin') deals with the creation of the world by God in seven days. The way in which this creation occurs is not meant to be literal, but rather symbolic of how God created everything in the universe. It also deals with the Great Flood, God's Covenant with Abraham, and the entrance of the Jews intro Egypt.
Exodus ('Going Out') tells of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the promise land (Canaan or modern Israel and Palestine). It also details the life of Moses, and the deliverance of the Ten Commandments to Moses atop Mt. Sinai. God's Covenant with the Jewish people is again reaffirmed in Exodus.
Leviticus ('Levites', the tribe from which priests were drawn) deals with the role of holy men in society, and sets out the laws about living and religious practices that Jews must follow. Much of Jewish religious practice is derived from Leviticus.
Numbers tells of God's punishment of the Israelites for their lack of faith and refusal to take control of Canaan. It also deals with the organisation of Jewish society.
Deuteronomy (Second Law) deals with the laws that govern society and religious practices. It is written as three sermons delivered before the Israelites enter Canaan. Along with Leviticus, it is the major source of Jewish religious and ethical practices
These five books together make up the Torah, and the basis of the Jewish religion. They also serve as a somewhat historical account of the origins of the Jewish people. In this way the Jewish sacred texts are even more significant, as they tell of both their history and their religious customs.
The other Jewish sacred texts, known as the oral Torah, expand upon the practices and guidelines outlined in the written Torah. The most prominent component of the oral Torah is the Talmud.
The Talmud is considered to be the second most sacred text of Judaism. It is made up of two component parts; the Mishnah and the Gemara. It deals with Jewish teachings on ethics, customs, practices, laws and religious beliefs. It is the compilation of all major Rabbi made laws, as distinguished from the laws made by God in the Torah.
The Mishnah is a debate on the laws of Judaism, which govern what a Jew can and cannot do. The most commonly debated topics are the 613 Halachah, which are commandments on how a Jewish person should live. These Halachah are the basis of Jewish law and ethical practices. The Mishnah presents the opinion of various Rabbis, collectively known as Tannaim, on various subjects. It is divided into six sections: Zeraim (Seeds), Moed (Festivals) Nashim (Women) Kodashim (Holies) and Teherot (Purities)
Zeraim deals with Jewish dietary practice, outlining which foods are kosher and which are not.
Moed deals with the various Jewish festivals and holidays, as well as what an observant Jew should do during these events.
Nashim discusses the laws surrounding marriage and sexuality
Kodashim discusses religious practices and ceremonies
Teherot discusses cleanliness and purity.
The Gemara ('completion') forms a discussion and commentary on the Mishnah. It primarily consists of legal discussion on the practices stated in the Mishnah.
These sacred texts form the basis of the Jewish religion, outlining its core beliefs, as well as its laws, rituals and ethical practices.