Sacred Texts
The Tanakh
The Jewish Bible, or Tanakh, has three sections: Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). In all there are 5 books of the Torah, 21 books of the Prophets and 13 books of Writings. The Torah is considered the absolute foundation of Judaism. The major part of the books of Torah was given to Moses on Mt Sinai, he was also given the Ten Commandments and the Oral Law. They were all written in Hebrew. In Hebrew the word 'Torah' means 'to teach'. The books of Nevi'im are partly historical, mainly prophetic and teach ethics and morals to a people straying from God's ways. The Writings mostly teach God's way and the correct, ethical way to live.
The Jewish Bible, or Tanakh, has three sections: Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). In all there are 5 books of the Torah, 21 books of the Prophets and 13 books of Writings. The Torah is considered the absolute foundation of Judaism. The major part of the books of Torah was given to Moses on Mt Sinai, he was also given the Ten Commandments and the Oral Law. They were all written in Hebrew. In Hebrew the word 'Torah' means 'to teach'. The books of Nevi'im are partly historical, mainly prophetic and teach ethics and morals to a people straying from God's ways. The Writings mostly teach God's way and the correct, ethical way to live.
TorahThese 5 books are:
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Nevi'im or Prophets
Contains the books of:
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Ketuvim or Writings
It Contains:
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The Talmud
The Talmud is the ultimate document of rabbinic thinking and has the two layers: Mishnah, which is a set of rules, telling people what to do and also Gemara, which contains questioning and application. It written mostly in Aramaic between 300 and 500 B.C.E. in Babylon and Palestine, but Orthodox Jews believe it was revealed to Moses along with the Torah and preseved orally until it was written down. The Talmud is thus known as the "Oral Torah," with the first five books of the Tanakh designated the "Written Torah."
The Talmud is the ultimate document of rabbinic thinking and has the two layers: Mishnah, which is a set of rules, telling people what to do and also Gemara, which contains questioning and application. It written mostly in Aramaic between 300 and 500 B.C.E. in Babylon and Palestine, but Orthodox Jews believe it was revealed to Moses along with the Torah and preseved orally until it was written down. The Talmud is thus known as the "Oral Torah," with the first five books of the Tanakh designated the "Written Torah."
The Midrash
Since Judaism begun there have been many questions and over time explanations, interpretations and answers have arisen to the questions. These 'answers' are collectively known as Midrash. Midrash is a Hebrew word meaning 'search or investigation'.
There are two branches of Midrash: those explaining the law are called Midrash halachah and those explaining stories are called Midrash aggadah. Midrash halachah deals mainly with the legal parts of Torah. Midrash aggadah seeks new meanings hidden within the stories of the Bible and highlights the ethical and moral messages in them.The primary collections of Midrash were compiled between the fourth and sixth centuries, but the midrashic form continues to the present day.
Since Judaism begun there have been many questions and over time explanations, interpretations and answers have arisen to the questions. These 'answers' are collectively known as Midrash. Midrash is a Hebrew word meaning 'search or investigation'.
There are two branches of Midrash: those explaining the law are called Midrash halachah and those explaining stories are called Midrash aggadah. Midrash halachah deals mainly with the legal parts of Torah. Midrash aggadah seeks new meanings hidden within the stories of the Bible and highlights the ethical and moral messages in them.The primary collections of Midrash were compiled between the fourth and sixth centuries, but the midrashic form continues to the present day.
Responsa
A further set of Jewish writings is the responsa, a vast collection (thousands of volumes) of answers to specific questions on Jewish law.
A further set of Jewish writings is the responsa, a vast collection (thousands of volumes) of answers to specific questions on Jewish law.
Sacred Stories
Most of Judaism's sacred stories come from the Old Testament, The Old Testament is a collection of selected writings composed and edited by members of the Hebrew-Jewish community between the twelfth century B.C.. It includes such diverse materials as prophetic oracles, teachings of wise men, instructions of priests and ancient records of the royal courts. Some material is historical, some is legendary, some is legalistic and some is academic.
Here are some stories:
Here are some stories:
The Story of Abraham and Issac
The Story of The Prophet Moses
The story of The Golden Calf