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Torah Facts & Worksheets

The Torah, the Hebrew word for “instruction” or “teaching,” comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In Rabbinical Jewish tradition, it’s a sacred text called the Written Torah.

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The Torah, the Hebrew word for “instruction” or “teaching,” comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In Rabbinical Jewish tradition, it’s a sacred text called the Written Torah. Meanwhile, Christians call it the Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses. Back in the day, people used to write the Torah by hand on scrolls called Sefer Torah. Nowadays, you can find it in books called Chumash, which usually includes rabbinic commentaries.

See the fact file below for more information about Torah, or you can download our 25-page Torah worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

TERMINOLOGY

  • The word “Torah” originates from Hebrew, meaning “teaching” or “instruction.”
  • This term includes both written and spoken teachings in the Jewish religion, like the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash.
  • While it is often translated as “law,” this does not fully capture its meaning, especially in the concept of the Talmud Torah, which is the study of the Torah.
  • Also, the Torah can mean the entire Hebrew Bible, even though its earliest title was “The Torah of Moses.”

ORIGINS AND SIGNIFICANCE

  • It is believed that the origins of the Torah can be traced to around 1200 BCE when Moses received the Torah directly from God at Mount Sinai.
  • This event signals the start of the Torah as a significant part of Judaism. 
  • Following the Babylonian Exile (586 to 538 BCE), scribes and scholars worked hard on the Torah. They wrote it down, explained it, and ensured it was transcribed accurately.
  • The Torah helped Jewish people stick together and build resilience even when things were difficult during exile and persecution.
  • Over time, rabbinic scholars added more ideas, theological explanations, and commentaries to the Torah.
  • They wrote books like the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash to help people understand it better. 
  • To this day, the Torah is significant to Jewish life.
  • Jews read it in synagogue every week, study it, and follow its rules.
  • It acts like a guidebook for being Jewish by helping people know its ethical principles and keeping the community strong.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

  • The Torah has five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 
  • It begins with God creating the whole world and telling the story of the first Jewish families, their time in Egypt, and how they got the Torah from God at Mount Sinai.
  • The last part features Moses dying just before the Jewish people head to their promised land, Canaan.
  • In Hebrew, each of the five books of the Torah has a unique name that comes from the first few words of the book.
    • Bəreshit (Genesis) means “In the beginning” and is about the story of creation.
    • Shəmot (Exodus) means “Names” and concerns the Israelites leaving Egypt.
    • Vayikra (Leviticus) means “And he called” and is mostly about rules for priests.
    • Bəmidbar (Numbers) means “in the desert” and is about the Israelites wandering through the desert.
    • Dəvarim (Deuteronomy) means “things” or “words” and reviews the laws given earlier.

BOOK OF GENESIS

  • The Book of Genesis has two parts: the Primeval history and the Ancestral history.
  • The Primeval history talks about how God created everything and how humans ruined it with sin.
  • God then decided to restart things with Noah and his family. 
  • Then, the Ancestral history focuses on the early days of Israel, called “God’s chosen people.”
  • Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, later called Israel, play significant roles in this book.
  • They journey to a new land promised by God and then settle there. 
  • Jacob’s son Joseph helps the family reach Egypt, where God promises they will become a mighty nation. 
  • Genesis wraps up with the Israelites in Egypt waiting for Moses and the big exit.
  • Along the way, there are promises made between God and people.

BOOK OF EXODUS

  • The Book of Exodus centers around how the Israelites, who were slaves in Egypt, broke free with the help of their God, Yahweh.
  • Yahweh sends plagues to convince the Egyptians to let them go. 
  • Led by Moses, the Israelites journey through the desert to Mount Sinai, where Yahweh promises them a new home in Canaan if they stay faithful and follow the Ten Commandments.
  • They make a deal with Yahweh, who gives them laws and instructions to build a special tent called the Tabernacle.
  • This tent is where Yahweh will be present with them.
  • They also prepare for a holy war to take over Canaan and live there peacefully.
  • People used to think Moses wrote this book, but scholars now believe it was put together during difficult times for the Jewish people, with stories passed down through generations.

BOOK OF LEVITICUS

  • The Book of Leviticus starts by telling the Israelites how to use the Tabernacle they just built, then describes what is clean and what is not, including rules about which animals they can eat (like kosher food), the Day of Atonement, and other moral rules.
  • Here, the consequences of obeying or disobeying God’s rules are also outlined.

BOOK OF NUMBERS

  • The title “Numbers” comes from the two censuses taken of the Israelites.
  • The Book of Numbers tells the story of the Israelites’ journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of Canaan.
  • They face challenges and doubts along the way, leading to consequences from God.
  • Despite being promised a great nation and the land of Canaan, their lack of faith delays their entry.
  • The book emphasizes holiness, faithfulness, and trust in God’s promises.

BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY

  • The Book of Deuteronomy contains speeches by Moses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. 
  • Here, Moses emphasized the importance of following God’s laws.
  • The book offers assurance that even if the people stray, repentance can lead to restoration.
  • One famous verse (Deuteronomy 6:4), known as the Shema Yisrael, declares the oneness of God, a central tenet of Jewish identity.

RITUAL AND STUDY

  • Every week in synagogue services, a section of the Torah called the Parashat is read aloud so people can learn from it.
  • Studying the Torah is crucial for Jews, as they hold the principle of lifelong learning (called Talmud Torah).
  • By studying the Torah, Jews deepen their connection to their heritage, strengthen their community bond, and find guidance for how to live in a meaningful way.

THE ORAL TORAH

  • According to Jewish tradition, Moses received both the written Torah and the Oral Torah during his 40 days on Mount Sinai.
  • The Oral Torah helps fill in the gaps where the written Torah needs more expounding, like explaining how to make tefillin, understanding the dietary laws, and observing Shabbat.
  • For example, while the Torah says to keep Shabbat, the specific rules mostly come from the Oral Torah.

TORAH SCROLL

  • A Torah scroll known as a Sefer Torah is a handwritten copy of the Hebrew text used for religious services.
  • Specially trained scribes write it carefully on parchment using a quill and ink and follow strict rules for lettering and layout.
  • Even the smallest mistake would be a big deal because every word is sacred.
  • It takes about one and a half years to finish making a Torah scroll. 
  • These unique scrolls are kept in the holiest part of the synagogue, called the Holy Ark.

Torah Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Torah across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Torah. Back in the day, people used to write the Torah by hand on scrolls called Sefer Torah. Nowadays, you can find it in books called Chumash, which usually includes rabbinic commentaries.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Torah Facts
  2. Book Bingo
  3. Torah or False?
  4. Genesis to Canaan
  5. Characters in the Torah
  6. Word Study
  7. Divine Dilemmas
  8. Create a Calendar
  9. Draw and Tell
  10. Interview Journal
  11. Torah Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Torah?

The Torah is the central and most sacred text of Judaism, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It is also known as the Pentateuch in Greek, meaning “five scrolls.” The Torah contains laws, narratives, teachings, and religious principles that serve as the foundation of Jewish faith and practice.

Who wrote the Torah?

According to Jewish tradition, Moses is considered the author of the Torah, as he is credited with receiving the divine revelation of its contents directly from God at Mount Sinai. However, modern scholarship suggests that the Torah is a compilation of multiple sources and authors, composed over centuries and edited by different scribes and religious leaders.

What are the main themes of the Torah?

The Torah addresses a wide range of themes, including the creation of the world, the covenant between God and the Israelites, the establishment of laws and rituals, the history of the Israelite people, and the moral and ethical principles guiding human behavior. It emphasizes the importance of monotheism, ethical living, justice, compassion, and obedience to God’s commandments.

How is the Torah studied and interpreted?

Jewish scholars and communities engage in various methods of studying and interpreting the Torah, including close textual analysis (peshat), allegorical interpretation (derash), legal analysis (halakha), and mystical interpretation (Kabbalah). Rabbinic commentary, such as the Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash, provides additional insights and interpretations of the Torah’s teachings.

What role does the Torah play in Jewish life?

The Torah is central to Jewish identity and religious practice, serving as the foundation of Jewish law (halakha) and tradition. It is read and studied regularly in synagogue services, especially during the weekly Sabbath readings (parashat hashavua) and annual cycle of Torah readings. The Torah guides Jewish ethical and moral behavior, shapes religious rituals and ceremonies, and fosters a sense of communal belonging and connection to God.

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Link will appear as Torah Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 3, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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