Book 2 - Belief and Sacred books

Question 1

What does Judaism Law consist of

Answer 1

• 10 Commandments
• 613 Mitzvot (Commandment, religious duty)
• The Torah (Pentateuch = first 5 books)
  *The Tenakh (All of Scripture = Pentateuch + Prophets + Writings
• Oral Torah (Talmud = Mishnah + Gemara + Midrash

Question 2

Teaching on the 613 Mitzvot

Answer 2

• Commandment or Religious duty
• No promise of immediate reward, a Jewi’s duty to od
• Taken on 1 day after 13th birthday by boys, 1 day after 12th for girls
• Women do not have to carry out all Mitzvot festivals
• Women (Naturally more spiritual, closer to God, less rules needed to live well)
  Some time-based Mitzvot interferes with their duties
• Happiness and fulfillment comes from living according to the 613 Mitzvot

Question 3

Contents of Tenakh

Answer 3

• Jewish scripture, influence every part of life
  1. Torah (Law)
  2. Nevi’im (Prophets)
  3. Ketuvim (Writings)
  Te Na Kh

Question 4

Contents of Torah (Law)

Answer 4

• Means Instruction or direction - Law (Most important part of the Tenakh)
• Pentateuch
• Genesis (creation of of manm up to Joseph)
• Exodus (Call of Moses, covenant)
• Leviticus (detailed laws given to Moses at Mt Sinai)
• Numbers (40 year journey from Mt Sinai to Promised Land)
• Deuteronomy (Moses’ last words to the Israelites over the Promised Land)

Question 5

Contents of Nevi’im (Prophets)

Answer 5

• Prophets
• Former Prophets (Joshua, right after Moses to II Kings, Solomon, division of Kingdom, destruction of Jerusalem)
• Latter Prophets (Isaiah, pre- exilic, 12 Minor prophets - up to return from Babylon, rebuilding the temple)

Question 6

Contents of Ketuvim (Writings)

Answer 6

• Poetic Books
• 5 Scrolls (origins of Jewish festivals)
• Other books

Question 7

Contents of Oral Torah

Answer 7

Oral Torah
- Talmud and Midrash
- Gemara is the commentary on the Mishnah
- Mishnah - Oral Law

Question 8

Contents of Mishnah (Talmud)

Answer 8

• First book of Oral Torah
• Teaches with examples and actual cases
• and Haggadah - guidance on preaching the Oral Torah
• (seeds, festivals, women, damagaes, holy matters, purities)

Question 9

Contents of Gemara (Talmud)

Answer 9

• Completion
• Compilation of comments of Rabbis on Mishnah

Question 10

Contents of Midrash

Answer 10

• “To seek”
• Stories and parables to interpret text from the Written Torah

Question 11

Tenakh and Torah in Public reading

Answer 11

• Tenakh read from on Shabbat, festivals, new moons, fast days, Monday and Thursday.
• Prayers read from the Talmud

Question 12

Tenakh and Talmud in Private worship

Answer 12

• Face East towards Jerusalem
• Siddur - Prayers from the Tenakh and Talmud (At home)
• Chumash - copy of the Torah
• Grace after meals (Birkat Hamazon)