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The Jewish holy books are the basis of the Jewish way of life. The Jewish holy books tell us what, why and how to live the Jewish life.
The center of the Jewish holy books is the written Torah and the Oral Torah.
The written Torah is the bible (the Tanakh). And the Oral Torah is the Mishnah, and Talmud.
The written Torah
The Torah is divided into five books that are named Pentateuch:
• Genesis (Bereshit) – talks about the genesis and our forefathers.
• Exodus (Shmot) – talks about the exodus from Egypt and getting the Torah.
• Book of Leviticus (Vaikra) – talks about the sacrifices
• Numbers (Bamidbar) – talks about the desert Journey
• Deuteronomy (Devarim) – talks about the Mitzvoth. This book is also named "Mishne Torah" because it sums up the whole Torah
This part Hashem told Moshe what to write, in the ending of the book Moshe passed away and his great disciple Joshua replaced him, Moshe thought the people the written Torah and the Oral Torah.
In the Jewish holy books after the Torah is the Prophets (Nevihim), this part is the second part of the bible.
The book is divided to two parts: the first Prophets and the Latter Prophets.
The first part is divided to four books:
• Joshua (Yehoshoa) – after Moshe passed away Joshua replaced him. He brought the Jewish people to the land of Israel and fought against thirty-one kings.
• Judges (Shoftim) – after Joshua passed away the Israelis people started to work ship idols. Hashem sent kings to subjugate the people of Israel. The Israelis people prayed to help and Hashem sent a Shofet to help them.
• Samuel (Shmoel) – the latest Shofet and the two kings Shaol and David
• Kings (Melachim) – the others kings
The second part is divided to fifteen parts: the great prophets: Ishiayahu Jeremiah and Ezekiel and the Minor Prophets: twelve prophets in one book "Trei Assar".
After the Prophets is the Ktovim ("Writings" or "Hagiographa"), this part is the third part of the bible.
The ktovim include the book of Psalms (Theilim), Proverbs (Mishley), Eyov, Five Scrolls, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
The Oral Torah
Important Part in the Jewish holy books is the Oral Torah. All the law books in the Jewish holy books are based on this part. This part included two parts: the Mishnah and the Talmud. The Torah's things are very general and the Oral Torah explains them. The Talmud is divided to two parts the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud.
The Oral Torah was studied from the teacher to his pupils and had never written..jpg)
Rabbi (Rabbi Judah haNasi) wrote the Mishnah in aim to remember the Mishnah. After five generations Rav Ashi and Ravina wrote the Babylonian Talmud.
The Mishnah is divided to six parts ("six sections of the Mishnah"). All part included chapters. Their name is:
• The first section is "Seder Zraim" (Seeds") – section that included ordering that we must do only in the land of Israel, for example Terumot, Ma'aserot, Ma'aserot…
• The second section is "Seder Mohed" ("Festival") – section that included ordering that we must do only in the season, for example Saturday, the holidays…
• The third section is "Seder Nashim" ("Women") – section that included ordering that we must do with women, for example Jewish marriage contract, Yevamot…
• The fourth section is "Seder Nezikin" ("Damages") – section that included Things between people - civil law Vulnerability…
• The fifth section is "Seder Kodashim" ("Holy things") – he talk about the work that was (and will be) in Beit Hamikdash for example – sacrifice, Bechoroth, the daily routine of the priests in Beit Hamikdash.
• The sixth and the last section is "Seder Th'arot" ("Purities") – this section talk about the purity and impurity (Tomah and Tahara) laws, for example - Impurity tools, ritual baths Law, The Red Heifer, Red Cow…
The Talmud explains and expands the Mishnah, he gives other situations, and gives stories, and laws. The Torah says what to do, and the Talmud explains who must to do, when and where we must to do and more things.
The laws books
An important part in the Jewish tradition and the Jewish holy books is the laws books. The laws book says what we must do every day, every week, in Saturday, in the holidays, and how we must do them.
The laws books is based on the Talmud, the Talmud is complicated – a lot of opinions, he talks about past situation, he is written in Aramaic (language). The writer must understand the Talmud.
In the center of the laws books is the Strong Hand book - Repetition of the Torah (Hayad Hachazaka – Mishne Torah) was written by Maimonides (Harambam). He is divided to fourteen parts:
• "Sefer Hamada" (Knowledge) – book which talks about the commandments which comprise most of the Jewish religion and everyone must know them.
• "Sefer Hahava" (Love) – book which talks about the regular commandments which shows the loving to Hashem. For example – tefillin, mezoza…
• "Sefer zmanim" (Times) – book which talks about the commandments which is in regular time. For example – Saturday, holidays…
• "Sefer Nashim" (Women) – book which talks about the commandments between the man and the woman.
• "Sefer Kdosha" (Holiness) – book which talks about the commandments sets us apart from the gentiles when Hashem sanctified.
• "Sefer Haflaha" (Separation) – talks about Nedarim (promises).
• "Sefer Zrahim" (Seeds) – talks about commandments which we must do on the land of Israel
• "Sefer Havoda" (Divine Service) and "Sefer Korbanot" (Offerings) – talk about the working in Beit Hamikdash.
• "Sefer Tahara" (Cleanness) – talks about Tumah and Tahara.
• Sefer Nezikin" (Injuries) – talks about things between people.
• "Sefer Kinyan" (Acquisition) – talks about selling and buying.
• "Sefer Mishpatim" (Rights) and "Sefer Shoftim" (Judges) – talk about law and judges.
This book is the base of the laws books for all the Jewish. A lot of writers took laws from this book. Maran Rabi Josef Karo wrote the "Sholhan Haroch" from this book and two others books in the Jewish holy books.
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