Tóra - Torah

The Torah (תורה) is the traditional name for the five books of Moses, which are also known by the Greek name Pentateuch. It is the first part of the Hebrew Bible. The others are the Prophets (נביאם‎‎, Nevi'im) and the Writings (קיטובים‎‎, Ktuvim), with these three sections collectively known as the Tanach. The five books that make up the Torah are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (in Hebrew בראשיט‎, Be-reshit, שמות‎, Shemot, ויקרא‎, Va-jikra, במדבר‎‎, Ba- midbar and דברים‎, Devarim). According to tradition, God revealed the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Torah describes the creation of the world and the ancient history of the Jewish people and is the basis of Jewish law (Halacha).

The Torah is written on a scroll of parchment, which is wrapped around wooden poles, wrapped in precious fabrics and kept in the tabernacle of the synagogue (aron ha-kodesh). It is read from the Torah during public readings (kri'at ha-Torah) on Shabbat, on Mondays and Thursdays, on Rosh Chodesh, on fasting days, holidays and High Holidays. The condition for reading from the Torah is the presence of at least ten Jewish adults.