Table of Contents
Why is the Torah so important to Judaism?
Jews believe that God dictated the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai 50 days after their exodus from Egyptian slavery. They believe that the Torah shows how God wants Jews to live. It contains 613 commandments and Jews refer to the ten best known of these as the ten 10 statements.
Why is the holy book important to Judaism?
The importance of Judaism’s sacred texts extends far beyond their religious significance. These ancient documents embody not only Judaism’s religious precepts, but also the historical, cultural and social heritage of the Jewish people.
Who was the Torah written by?
Moses
The Talmud holds that the Torah was written by Moses, with the exception of the last eight verses of Deuteronomy, describing his death and burial, being written by Joshua.
What is the process of learning the Torah?
Torah is a process involving a constant interplay between thought and action. Jewish texts provide the foundation upon which this process of discovery and action is built. Torah as process involves wrestling with received texts and practices and bequeathing new texts and practices to our descendants.
What does the word Torah mean in Judaism?
This definition encompasses Jewish scripture in its entirety including all authoritative Jewish religious teachings throughout history. The word Torah has various meanings in English. These include: teaching, instruction and law. For Jews the Torah means all of these.
Is the Torah more than the five books of Moses?
Torah is more than the Five Books of Moses; it is the name Jews give to the process of discovering a godly way of living. Torah is a process involving a constant interplay between thought and action. Jewish texts provide the foundation upon which this process of discovery and action is built.
Why is the Sefer Torah so sacred to Jews?
A Sefer Torah is so sacred to Jews it is said that if one is accidentally dropped in the synagogue the whole congregation must fast for 40 days. When Jewish communities have suffered persecution, great efforts would be made to preserve these scrolls.