[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/torah/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [T](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/t/) / torah

# torah

noun (the Torah)

«torah» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (Judaism) The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which Jews believe God gave to Moses; it holds the Jewish law and stories. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#m1)
2. A Torah or Torah scroll is a hand-written copy on a long scroll, kept in the ark of a synagogue. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#m2)
3. Torah can also mean all Jewish teaching. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#m3)

### In the lessons

In RE pupils learn that the Torah scroll is treated with great respect: it is read with a pointer called a yad so hands do not touch the letters, and dancing with the Torah happens at Simchat Torah. A bar or bat mitzvah child reads from it for the first time. Christians have the same five books as the start of the Old Testament. Phrases: the Torah scroll, read from the Torah, the laws of the Torah.

### Examples

- The rabbi lifted the Torah scroll so everyone could see. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#x1)
- The Torah is written in Hebrew by hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#x2)
- At his bar mitzvah, Ben read from the Torah. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#x3)
- The Torah is kept in a special cupboard called the ark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#x4)
- A silver pointer helps the reader follow the Torah. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#x5)
- The Torah contains the Ten Commandments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/#x6)

### Note

Capital T. Say "TOR-ah". Usually "the Torah". The "ark" in a synagogue is a cabinet, not Noah's ship.

## In Jewish tradition

In these texts Torah means the five books of Moses, and more widely God's teaching and law given to Israel.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says the Torah was given at Sinai and that it is the blueprint of the world; one midrash pictures God consulting it when creating, and the Sefer Yetzirah tradition links Torah with Wisdom in creation.

### Examples

- A similar view is reflected in the midrashicic and Kabbalistic literature, where Torah or Wisdom acts as a participant or instrument in the Work of Creation; see e.g. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/torah/#x1)
- Thou hast a beloved one in the world, wilt thou conceal anythinij from him ?" Directly, the Holy On blessed be He said, 'Shall I conceal from Abraham?' and consulted the Torah. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/torah/#x2)

### Note

Capital T. Say "TOR-ah". Usually "the Torah". The "ark" in a synagogue is a cabinet, not Noah's ship.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «torah» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/torah/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«torah» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/torah.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «torah» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/torah/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«torah» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/torah.html) on Mova free.