2.2 : The Tenakh and Talmud

Question 1

What are the three parts of the Tenakh?

Answer 1

• Torah
• Nevi’im
• Ketuvium

Question 2

What is the Torah?

Answer 2

• The first 5 books of Moses
• Contains laws and moral ideas in Judaism.
• The context of history of the Israelites to the death of Moses.
• Contains stories of the patriachs, Egyptian slavery, the covenants, and the journey to the Promsied Land.
• It is the holiest part of the Tenakh, as it contains the 613 Mitzvot, the basis of Jewish life.

Question 3

What is the Nevi’im?

Answer 3

• The books of the prophets.
• Contains the story of Israel, the establishment of the monarchy, the end of the kingdom,a nd the exile of Jewish people to Babylon.
• Teaches how the Mosaic Covenant worked its way out through the Jewish people.
• Its purpose is to teach faith in one God and proclaim G-d’s message.

Question 4

What is the Ketuvium?

Answer 4

• Holy writings
• Purpose is to show how the way Jews behaved towards G-d, affectedt heir history.
• Expresses the ups and down of living as God’s people and gives advuce on how to live a moral life.

Question 5

Why is the Tenakh important?

Answer 5

• The Psalms are an important part of daily prayers and synagogue worship
• The Torah and Nevi’im are an important part of synagogue worship
• Jewish people look towards the books of the Tenakh yo help them in thier understanding of and their relationship with God.
• Portions of the Nevi’im are read at the end of Torah readings in the synagaogue. These portionsa re known as haftarot.

Question 6

What makes up the halakhah?

Answer 6

The written and oral Torah

Question 7

Why is the Talmud important?

Answer 7

• It explains the meaning of the 613 Mitzvot
• It explains how the Mitzvot should be applied in the everyday life of a Jew.
• Form the basis of the halakhah, the basis of Orthdox Jewish life today.

Question 8

What are some of the main kosher food laws?

Answer 8

• Pigs, shellfish, and camels must not be eaten.
• Animals must be slaughtered using the shechitah method or by slitting the throat and draining the blood.
• Kitchens must be split into two halves ; one for meat and one for dairy.

Question 9

SOWA : Deuteronomy 14:6

Answer 9

“Every animal that parts the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among animals, you may eat”

Question 10

SOWA: Deuteronomy 14:8

Answer 10

“The pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you”

Question 11

SOWA : Deuteronomy 14:10

Answer 11

“Whatever does not have fins or scales, you shall not eat; it is unclean for you”

Question 12

SOWA: Deuteronomy 14:21

Answer 12

“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk”

Question 13

SOWA : Leviticus

Answer 13

“For the blood is in the flesh….no soul of you shall eat blood…“

Question 14

Why is keeping kashrut important to Orthodox Jews?

Answer 14

• If they eat non-kosher foods, or dont keep a kosher kitchen, they ar ebreaking many of the Mitzvot.
• It gives Jews a sense of identity
• It gives a bond with fellow Jews
• It makes them thinka bout God every time they decide to eat

Question 15

Why is keeping kashrut not as important for liberal Jews?

Answer 15

• The laws of Moses are not God’s direct commands