The Torah in Judaism refers to the substance of divine revelation to Israel, the Jewish people, and is considered Gods revealed teaching or guidance for humankind. In its narrowest sense, the Torah refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Law or the Pentateuch, which are traditionally ascribed to Moses. These books are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Torah is preserved in all Jewish synagogues on handwritten parchment scrolls and is removed and returned to their place with special reverence. Readings from the Torah form an important part of Jewish liturgical services. In a broader sense, Torah includes all Jewish law and tradition, and it can also refer to the entire Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, as well as the entire body of Jewish law and teachings, including the Oral Torah, which comprises the Mishnah, the Talmud, the Midrash, and more.
The Torah is considered the core of the Jewish spiritual and religious tradition and is explicitly self-positioned as encompassing multiple interpretations, making an unequivocal definition of Torah impossible. It represents the origin of Jewish peoplehood and includes both Rabbinic Judaisms written and oral law, serving to encompass the entire spectrum of authoritative Jewish religious teachings throughout history.
In summary, the Torah in Judaism encompasses the divine revelation to Israel, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, all Jewish law and tradition, and the entire body of Jewish teachings, culture, and practice, whether derived from biblical texts or later rabbinic writings.
