The Torah

Judaism · ancient texts · scripture · history

Five sacred books. The Torah contains Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Together they're also called the Pentateuch, which means 'five scrolls' in Greek.

Written by hand. In synagogues, the Torah is written by hand on a special scroll made from parchment. Each letter must be perfect, and scribes train for years to create these beautiful scrolls.

Core of Judaism. Jews consider the Torah the most sacred part of their scripture because it contains the foundational stories of their people and the laws God gave to Moses.

Multiple formats. The same text appears as a hand-written scroll for religious services, or as a bound book called a Chumash, which usually includes helpful commentaries and explanations.

Moses on Mount Sinai. The Torah describes Moses receiving God's laws, including the Ten Commandments, on Mount Sinai. These laws guide how Jewish people live their faith.