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Sacred Texts
The Hebrew Bible (a.k.a.
"Old Testament") contains the same books as the Christian version but
in a different order after the first five (compare
here)
"Bible" (Biblia)
means "little books", the Bible is a library: a collection of 39
independent books compiled over a period of 1000 years (during Hebrew monarchy
and "Second Temple" period) from older oral traditions.
Considered revealed and
inspired by God, covers much of the early history of the Hebrew people but more
than just a book of history (for the Jewish people history is given spiritual
significance). It is the story of God’s interaction with His "Chosen
People" (His-Story)
Contains ethical teachings,
directions for life (e.g., dietary laws), foundations for actions, devotion and
worship of God, insights for understanding... all in historical context for use
in any time by the Jewish people wherever they may be
Canonized
by the first century CE into its final form: Three parts
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contains the written
law: 613 commandments from God, rules for ritual and sacrificial practices
followed by priests as well as moral rules to be followed by the entire
Jewish community
-
many no longer apply
since they have to do with priestly and sacrificial activity. Many apply
only to certain people e.g., priests, Levites or males.
Click
here for a full listing of the 613 commandments
-
Prophets: Words
and revelations of the minor and major prophets (e.g., Ezekiel, Isaiah,
Amos, Jonah, etc.)
-
Writings: poetic
and devotional material written and used during the same time as the
Prophets, words and works of the sages (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth,
Esther, Daniel, etc.)
Rabbinic Period:
2nd - 7th cent. CE
Rabbis replace Priests:
development of oral law, Talmud - focus on religious law in place of ritual
practice of Priests on behalf of the people
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Rabbis were direct
continuation of 1st cent. Pharisaic Judaism (the new Judaism)
-
"Rabbi" means
"teacher" - one who teaches the law, instructs through
interpretation of Torah. While a priest is a hereditary and anointed role,
rabbi is open to anyone learned enough in Torah to be respected as an
authority.
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Synagogue life replaces
Temple rites: prayer and study of written and oral law becomes primary focus
of the faith in place of Temple sacrifice
Talmud:
the "Oral Law":
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commentary and
interpretation of Torah compiled by the Rabbis during Rabbinic period c. 200
-700 CE
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The entire Talmud
contains many volumes and is many times longer than the Torah (or even the
entire Bible itself). A single page of Talmud may contain a single paragraph
from Torah together with commentaries of the earliest, most authoritative
rabbis along with later commentaries on the earlier commentaries
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Rabbis discuss and
debate with each other the meaning and ramifications of content of written
law.
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"Fencing the
Law" example: "thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother’s
milk" (Exodus 34:26) - to avoid breaking this commandment, the
rabbis determined that Jews should not cook or even eat any meat with
any milk, should even have two different sets of dishes for
exclusively meat and dairy meals
-
Talmud is secondary to
Torah but considered by Orthodox view as contemporaneous with Torah
(received at Sinai with Torah) and a necessary aid for understanding Torah
and applying it in one’s day to day living.
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Orthodox teaching holds
that the essence of the entire Torah and Talmud (written and oral Law) was
given to Moses on Sinai
Visit
Judaism 101 for more on the Talmud and other Jewish texts
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