torah
n. C / Un. the most important holy book in Judaism. It contains the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and includes the laws and teachings of the faith.
n. the primary sacred text of Judaism, consisting of the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. When referring to the physical object, it typically describes a parchment scroll used in liturgical services.
The rabbi read a passage from the Torah during the service.
During the bar mitzvah ceremony, the young student was called to read a portion of the Torah in front of the congregation.
Scholars often examine the Torah not only as a foundational religious document but also as a complex legal framework that has shaped Jewish ethical thought for millennia.
Borrowed from Hebrew תּוֹרָה (tōrā, “instruction, law or teaching”).
Usually capitalized. When used as a countable noun, it refers to the physical scroll; as an uncountable noun, it refers to the body of wisdom or law.