The Torah is the central and most important religious text in Judaism, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books are traditionally believed to have been given by God to the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai and contain the laws, teachings, and narratives foundational to Jewish faith and practice
. The word "Torah" in Hebrew means "law" or "teaching." It refers not only to these five books (also called the Pentateuch) but can also encompass the entire body of Jewish law and tradition, including both the Written Torah (the text itself) and the Oral Torah (interpretations and teachings passed down orally and later recorded in texts like the Talmud)
. The Torah contains 613 commandments, including the well-known Ten Commandments, which guide Jewish religious, ethical, and social life. It is read publicly in synagogues regularly, forming a core part of Jewish communal worship
. Beyond Judaism, the Torah is also significant in Christianity and Islam. Christians include these books as the first part of the Old Testament, and in Islam, the Torah (Tawrat) is recognized as a holy book given to the prophets among the Children of Israel
. In summary, the Torah is both a sacred scripture and a comprehensive guide to Jewish law, ethics, and identity, revered as the direct word of God given to Moses and foundational to Jewish religious life
