Torah

[ toh-ruh, tawr-uh; Sephardic Hebrew toh-rah; Ashkenazic Hebrew toh-ruh, toi-ruh ]

noun

, Judaism.

1. Also the Torah. the five books containing the Law as revealed to Moses, constituting the first of the three divisions of Jewish Scripture: Compare Pentateuch ( def ).Tanakh.

   In the desert of life filled with obstacles and challenges, the light of Torah helps lead the way.

2. a parchment scroll on which the five books of the Law are written, used in synagogue services.
3. Also the Torah.
   1. the entire body of Jewish Scripture, including all three divisions; Tanakh.
   2. the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching as contained chiefly in the Tanakh and the Talmud.
4. law or instruction.

Torah

/ ˈtəʊrə; tɔˈra /

noun

1. 1. the Pentateuch
   2. the scroll on which this is written, used in synagogue services
2. the whole body of traditional Jewish teaching, including the Oral Law
3. modifier promoting or according with traditional Jewish Law

Torah

1. The law on which Judaism is founded ( torah is Hebrew for “law”). This law is contained in the first five books of the Bible (see also Bible ) ( Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Torah can also refer to the entire body of Jewish law and wisdom, including what is contained in oral tradition.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Torah¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Hebrew tôrāh “instruction, law”; akin to hôrāh “to teach,” yārāh “to throw”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Torah¹

C16: from Hebrew: precept, from yārāh to instruct

Example Sentences

Many Jews have removed mezuzahs - the small Torah scrolls - from their doorposts, or they have covered them with duct tape out of fear of reprisal.

From BBC

When an audience member asked about babies he replied: ”The same… The Torah is saying: ‘You shall not let a soul remain alive’… Today he’s a baby, tomorrow he’s a boy, tomorrow he’s a warrior.”

From BBC

Otzma Yehudit represents one extreme within Zionism, depicting it as an essential component of Orthodox Judaism, which regards the Torah as a divine text revealed by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

From Salon

The former president promised it’ll be the “Summer of Trump with Trump Espresso,” a Jan. 6-style event in July and a Jewish edition of the Bible he calls “Trump Torah.”

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s no Torah reading,” Jordana Abraham, the chief comedy officer, deadpanned.

From New York Times