The Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
. It is known as the Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses by Christians and is considered the core of the Jewish spiritual and religious tradition
. The Torah can also refer to the entire Hebrew Bible or the totality of Jewish teaching, culture, and tradition
. In its most limited sense, the Torah refers to the Five Books of Moses, which are traditionally ascribed to Moses, the recipient of the original revelation from God on Mount Sinai
. The Torah can be divided into two main parts:
- Written Torah (Tōrā šebīḵṯāv) : This refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, which are preserved in all Jewish synagogues on handwritten parchment scrolls
- Oral Torah : This refers to the laws and customs passed down through oral traditions, which are part of Rabbinic commentaries on and interpretations of both Oral and Written Law
The Torah is a central part of Jewish liturgical services, and readings from the Torah form an important part of these services
. The term "Torah" is used in the general sense to include both Written and Oral Torah, encompassing the entire spectrum of authoritative Jewish religious teachings
