Torah, Tanakh and Talmud - the holy scriptures of Judaism
In Judaism, there are three holy scriptures: the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Talmud. They contain traditional texts, fundamental narratives, and principles of faith and social coexistence.
The Torah
The Torah, also spelled Torah or Torah (Hebrew: "law," "teaching"), is the central book and religious source of Judaism. According to tradition, the Torah was revealed by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. It comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). In Greek, it is also known as the Pentateuch, meaning "five scrolls." The Torah was originally written in Hebrew, and readers must have a strong command of the language to understand and interpret the text.
The Torah is considered the holiest text in Judaism. It contains the fundamental narratives of Judaism, including the creation of the world, the patriarchs and matriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. It also contains laws, commandments, and teachings that are fundamental to Jewish faith and practice. It serves as the fundamental law of Jewish life and provides guidance on moral, ethical, and ritual matters.
For use in religious services, the Torah is prescribed in the form of a Torah scroll (not as a bound book). This is a handwritten parchment scroll containing the Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses, written by a specially trained scribe, known as a sofer. In Shabbat services, the Torah is read according to the religious yearly cycle, with this reading being a recitative-like chant. The reading of the last section of Deuteronomy and the beginning of the first section of Genesis take place on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah (Hebrew: Joy of the Torah).
The Tanakh
The Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, is the central collection of sacred texts in Judaism. It contains the Torah, as well as the "Prophets" (Hebrew: "newi'im") and the Writings (Hebrew: "ketuvim").
The Nevi'im (Prophets) section includes the historical and prophetic books. It contains works attributed to prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others. These books contain prophecies, historical accounts, and moral teachings.
The Ketuvim (Writings) section consists of various writings, including poetry, wisdom literature, historical narratives, and other texts. Some well-known books in this section are Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
The Hebrew Bible forms the religious and cultural foundation of Judaism and has also influenced other Abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Islam. Jews throughout the world view it as the authoritative scripture and study it extensively for its religious, moral, and historical significance.
The Talmud
The Talmud (Hebrew: "instruction," "study") is, alongside the Torah, the most important compendium, or textbook, of Judaism. It contains the rabbinic writings that expound to the Torah, i.e., the written version of the teachings and legal regulations of post-biblical Judaism. The Talmud includes rules for social and familial coexistence (e.g., tax, civil, and criminal law, marriage and family legislation, illness and hygiene, sacrifice and slaughter regulations, and purity regulations, etc.).