6 Things You Didn’t Know about the Torah

torahSource: Beliefnet

We all have misconceptions about many of our religious texts, and the wonderful Torah is also included.

Many don’t realize what goes into the making of creating the Torah, keeping it holy, and when Moses wrote the first scroll. Here six facts that you didn’t know about the Torah.

First Torah

Moses authored the first Torah scrolls to give to the 12 tribes. This was stored in the Ark inside the Temple so no one could manipulate the writings.

The Torah is also known as the Five Books of Moses. Additionally, the Torah is the entire body of Jewish teachings. Moses didn’t just receive the commandments he received the entire Torah. He went on

Laws

The Torah was the first book to introduce laws, ethics and morals during a time of human sacrifice and severe immorality over 3,000 years ago.

First Laws Introduced

The Torah was the first book to introduce laws, ethics and morals during a time of human sacrifice and severe immorality over 3,000 years ago. Another law that really upset the people was the law against sexual immorality.

Writing of the Torah

There are over 3,000 laws that dictate the writing of the Torah. Any mistake made during the writing, the scroll is burned. If there is a mistake when writing the name of God–the writer must go take a bath in the ritual pool.

Asofer

Did you know that only a highly trained asofer can write the Torah and it takes a year and each page has 42 lines?

What is the Misnah?

Many orthodox Jews believe that the Lord taught the Oral Torah to Moses so he could teach it to others. Not until the 2nd Century BC was the oral tradition written down in what is known as the Mishnah.

What is the Misnah? The Misnah is the first written work of the Oral Torah.