Torah is a Hebrew word that means to instruct, guide, or teach. While the word Torah can refer to several different things, it most often refers to the first five books of the Jewish (Hebrew) Bible. Christians will recognize these books as being the same first five books of the Old Testament. The term Torah can also allude to the entirety of the Jewish religious teachings, laws, and traditions.
The entire Torah is still written by hand today and it sometimes takes more than a year to write it. As Jewish tradition, portions of Torah scrolls are read during the week in their synagogues and public readings.
The Books That Make Up The Torah
Bereshit – (means in the beginning) / Genesis
This first book includes the story of creation, how sin entered the picture, and Noah’s ark. We also learn about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The book ends with the death of Joseph in Egypt.
Shemot – (meaning Names) / Exodus
Exodus begins with the Jews being in slavery in Egypt and ends with the construction of the Tabernacle. In between these two events we learn how Moses led the Jewish people out of Egypt and later received the Law on Mount Sinai.
Vayikra – (and he called) / Leviticus
This third book contains instructions and laws about how to use the Tabernacle, what is clean and unclean, sacrifices, along with the rewards and punishments for those who follow God’s commandments and those who don’t.
Bamidbar – (in the desert) / Numbers
Numbers tells us about the forty years the Israelites were made to wander in the desert wilderness. By the end of the book they are getting ready to enter the Promised Land.
Devarim – (things or words) / Deuteronomy
In the fifth book of the Torah Moses appoints Joshua as his successor. Moses is able to get a glimpse of the Promised Land from a distance before he dies.
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