Judaism Sacred Texts and Writings

Question 1

most important texts in Judaism

Answer 1

→ Tanakh – the Hebrew Bible

→ Talmud – a collection of commentaries on the Tanakh

Question 2

importance of sacred texts

Answer 2

→ Revelation of the mind of God
→ Guide for daily life
→ Source of positive and negative laws
→ Source of beliefs and practices

Question 3

3 sections of THE TANAKH

Answer 3

• Torah (law) – the first five books of the Bible
• Nevi’im (prophets) – the writings of those called by God as his spokespeople
• Ketuvim (writings) – a collection of assorted genres including poetry, songs and history

Question 4

the Torah (law) factors and importance

Answer 4

• most important part of the Tenakh.
• tradition says is a divine text written down by Moses
• contains foundations of all Jewish law
  → 613 Mitzvot
• Stories of patriarchs and covenants and the 40-year journey to the Promised Land.
  → contains the expression of the Covenant between God and the people of Israel.

Question 5

The Neviim (prophets) factors and importance

Answer 5

• the book of prophets
  → people chosen by God to call Israel to loyalty to the Covenant.
• Throughout the history of Israel at various times the people fell away from their observance of the Torah
  → Prophets were responsible for pointing out this transgression and calling for repentance and a return to Covenant fidelity.

Question 6

The Ketuvim (writings) factors and importance

Answer 6

• Contains variety of genres including poetry, wisdom literature and history
• to record the history of the Jews and their actions within the covenant relationship with God.

Question 7

2 sections of THE TALMUD (oral torah)

Answer 7

Halakhah (“Walking”)
→ Laws with detailed explanations
→ Interpretation and application of the Mitzvot

Haggadah (“Telling”)
→ Wisdom of Sages / Rabbis
→ History, stories and theological reflections

Question 8

the Talmud factors and importance

Answer 8

• Talmud → Aramaic term meaning “Learning”
• combined:
  → Mishnah (compendium of oral law)
  → Gemara (collection of commentary on the Mishnah and the Tanakh)
• is the basis of Jewish religious life.

Question 9

oral Torah

Answer 9

• interpretation and application of the Torah to changing circumstances over successive generations.
  → it was at first transmitted orally, hence called the Oral Torah.

Question 10

the Talmud

Answer 10

• the Oral Torah was put into writing → Talmud.
• generational circumstances mean the Torah needed to be adapted and applied to each new generation.
  → “fills the holes” of the Tanakh/Written Torah.