Torah Holy Book Apr 2026

The Torah introduced concepts that now seem universal: a weekly day of rest (Shabbat), the inherent dignity of all humans made in the divine image, the rule of law applying even to a king, and a linear (not cyclical) view of history leading toward redemption.

Many assume the Torah is the Jewish equivalent of the Old Testament. While the Torah makes up the first five books of the Christian Old Testament, Judaism’s Bible ( Tanakh ) includes the Torah, the Prophets ( Nevi’im ), and the Writings ( Ketuvim ). The Torah holds unique primacy: it is the foundation upon which the rest stands. torah holy book

Unlike a Bible on a shelf, the Torah is a liturgical object. A portion ( parashah ) is read aloud in synagogue every Shabbat morning. The cycle begins and ends on the holiday of Simchat Torah, completing the entire scroll over one year. Standing while the scroll is carried to the reading table, kissing it with a prayer shawl or hand—these acts signal that the Torah is not studied , but encountered . The Torah introduced concepts that now seem universal: