Judaism - Sacred Texts and Writings (Yr 11)

Question 1

what are the three main sacred texts and writings in Judaism?

Answer 1

• the Hebrew Bible
• The Tanakh
• The Talmud

Question 2

what does the Hebrew Bible consist of?

Answer 2

• consists of two traditions - oral and written
• written: comprised of books which Christian’s refer to as the Old Testament
  oral: comprises of an authoritative body of post-biblical laws
• known as the Tanakh and referred to as the Torah

Question 3

what does the Tanakh consist of?

Answer 3

• three sections: the Torah (law), Nevi’im (prophets), and Ketuvim (writings)
• the Torah: 613 Mitzvot
• Nevi’im: presents Israel history and the words God said to the prophets
• Ketuvim: the remaining books of the Tanakh which are written by the prophets

Question 4

what does the Tanakh consist of?

Answer 4

• regarded as the oral law
• interpret and apply the laws of the Torah
• recorded until 200 CE
• the oral Torah explains the written Torah and how to interpret it and apply the Laws

Question 5

what is an extract from the Hebrew Bible that expresses a principal belief?

Answer 5

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Deut 5:8)