Learn more of the basics here: Judaism101
Midrash
Ethics of Our Fathers - Pirkei Avot
What is Torah?
The Torah is a term meaning teachings or learnings. In one sense it is the catch all name of the entire body of Jewish religious law and learning including all of the sacred books, writings and oral tradition.
The Torah is also the Hebrew name for the Greek word Pentateuch - the first five books of the Jewish Bible (known as the Old Testament in Christian tradition) - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These first five books are considered to have been divinely inspired and "revealed" to Moses, who first wrote down the words in a scroll. The Books of Moses tells the story of the creation of the world and the founding of the Jewish people. The 613 commandments (mitzvahs) contain the foundations of all the basic laws of Judaism. The moral foundations established in these books through the mitzvahs and the stories of the fore bearers of the Jewish nation are accepted not only by Jews but by Christians, as well. Overall, these first five books of the Bible establish the relationship between God and the Jewish people - and God's sovereignty over the rest of the human race and all of creation.
In Jewish synagogues the Torah is kept in scroll form and read, or rather sung, during services and other religious functions. This scroll form is also known as The Torah.
The Torah is not only the five books of Moses (or as mentioned, the complete Bible) - known as the Written Torah, but the "understanding" of the words - imparted by God directly to Moses known as the Oral Torah. The Oral Torah was imparted by Moses to the Elders of Israel, who transmitted it to the elders of each future generation. The Oral Torah is disputed by some, as the evidence of the chain of transmission has been lost, though others say that much was preserved and eventually written down and kept in the compendium of Jewish knowledge known as the Talmud.
Additional material can be found in the Midrash - a mixture of legends, oral stories and sometimes fanciful tales. The term can also refer to a biblical verse and its interpretation. The goal of Midrash is to "search out" the full meaning behind a verse.
The Torah is also the Hebrew name for the Greek word Pentateuch - the first five books of the Jewish Bible (known as the Old Testament in Christian tradition) - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These first five books are considered to have been divinely inspired and "revealed" to Moses, who first wrote down the words in a scroll. The Books of Moses tells the story of the creation of the world and the founding of the Jewish people. The 613 commandments (mitzvahs) contain the foundations of all the basic laws of Judaism. The moral foundations established in these books through the mitzvahs and the stories of the fore bearers of the Jewish nation are accepted not only by Jews but by Christians, as well. Overall, these first five books of the Bible establish the relationship between God and the Jewish people - and God's sovereignty over the rest of the human race and all of creation.
In Jewish synagogues the Torah is kept in scroll form and read, or rather sung, during services and other religious functions. This scroll form is also known as The Torah.
The Torah is not only the five books of Moses (or as mentioned, the complete Bible) - known as the Written Torah, but the "understanding" of the words - imparted by God directly to Moses known as the Oral Torah. The Oral Torah was imparted by Moses to the Elders of Israel, who transmitted it to the elders of each future generation. The Oral Torah is disputed by some, as the evidence of the chain of transmission has been lost, though others say that much was preserved and eventually written down and kept in the compendium of Jewish knowledge known as the Talmud.
Additional material can be found in the Midrash - a mixture of legends, oral stories and sometimes fanciful tales. The term can also refer to a biblical verse and its interpretation. The goal of Midrash is to "search out" the full meaning behind a verse.
RESOURCES
Additional Resources
Sponsored Resources
Blessings Before Learning Torah
It is said that the Torah commands us to recite a special blessing before beginning study:
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.Please Hashem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Hashem, Giver of the Torah.
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.Please Hashem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Hashem, Giver of the Torah.
Blessing Following Torah Study
Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d,King of the universe, who hast chosen us from all peoples and given us thy Torah. Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.
