#43 – People of the Book: Torah

#43 People of the Book: Torah

In this lesson you will learn the names of the Five Books of Moses and their major themes. You will also see how the Torah is written and understand how and why the Torah is divided into 54 “sedras” or “parshas.”

#1 KNOW THIS:  Useful Torah Vocabulary

Mezritch Torah5 Books of Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
Sedra/Parsha: A section of the Torah. There are 54 sections and each has a title
Aliyah: The Act of being “called to the Torah” to recite the Torah or offer a prayer
Troupe: The melody used for chanting the Torah aloud
Tablets: What Moses carried down Mt. Sinai symbolizing the teachings of the Torah
Scribe: A learned person who writes a Torah

#2. WATCH. Enjoy this charming story about Moses and The Tablets

#3. WATCH THIS: The Contents of the Torah explained by Hebrew Wizards

#4:  WATCH : Simchat Torah is the holiday that celebrates the Torah

#5:  WATCH THIS: In Modern Times, the Torah is written by a scribe

#6 STUDY THIS: Torah Writing Facts

Hebrew Text ImageThere are 304,805 letters in the Torah. There are over 4,000 laws that dictate the writing. Even the slightest slip of the pen, the smallest mistake, can be reason to burn the scroll and start over.

Torahs are made up of between 62 and 84 sheets of parchment produced from the skin of a kosher animal. The pen used to write one is actually a quill from a kosher bird, usually a goose feather, and only special, permanent black ink is acceptable. The handles of the Torah scroll are called the “Etzah Chayim” The trees of Life.

#7 RESPOND AND REACT

1. What are each of the Five Books of Moses?
2. How many Sedras/Parshas are there in the Torah?
3. What does the word “Torah” mean in English?
4. What is the name of the holiday that celebrates the Torah?
5. Who is the person who writes a Torah scroll?
6. If there was one important topic that you would want to make sure was included in the teachings of the Torah, what would the one teaching be?

Need some help?

We’re here for you. At any time, if you have any questions, please contact one of our teachers so we can help you.

Also, at the end of the session, remember to review your responses in your Tamid Workbook so you can get credit for this lesson. Behatzlacha (Hebrew for good luck)!

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