20. Torah

The Torah is the central reference of religious Judaic traditions. The term Torah can also refer to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Inside the Torah there are narratives, statements of law, and statements of ethics. These laws, usually called biblical law or commandments, are sometimes referred to as the Law of Moses. The Torah consists of the founding narrative of the Jews, which is their call into being and belief in their God, which involves following a way of life embodied in a set of moral and religious obligations. The Torah starts with God and the creation of the Earth, through the beginnings of the people of Israel, their descent into Egypt, and the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. The Torah ends with the death of Moses.

Michael Musallam

Sources:

http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm

http://www.worldofjudaica.com/judaism/torah/introduction-to-the-torah (picture)