Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseThe Tanakh is the Jewish Bible. It is a collection of holy books written almost entirely in Hebrew. Jews believe it is the revelation of the Almighty, which means that the Almighty has made known to people what is true, how to live and what is expected of them. This is why Jews treat it with great respect. It is the main source of authority in Judaism, the place Jews turn to first to learn what the Almighty wants.
The word "Tanakh" is made from the first Hebrew letter of each of its three parts: T for Torah, N for Nevi'im and K for Ketuvim. Together they make T-N-K, which is pronounced "Tanakh".
Key terms:
The five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They contain law and teaching, together with the stories of Abraham and Moses. It is the holiest part of the Tanakh.
The Prophets. This part includes history books, such as Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings, and the words of the prophets themselves, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
The Writings. They include poetry and wisdom: Psalms, Proverbs and Job. They also include the five scrolls, such as Esther, and other books.
The Torah comes first because it is the foundation. The Prophets remind the people to keep the covenant and to treat others fairly. The Writings are the people's response in song, wisdom and reflection. Each part is holy, but the Torah has the highest status. You met Moses and the Torah in the lesson Moses, the Exodus and the Covenant at Sinai.
Jews agree that the Tanakh is holy, but they do not all understand it in the same way. The main difference is between a literal and a metaphorical understanding.
Orthodox Jews believe the Torah was given by the Almighty to Moses word for word. Because the words are the Almighty's own, they cannot be changed. The Torah is binding, which means Jews must obey it, and it is read together with the Oral Torah, the traditional explanations passed down with it.
Progressive (Reform and Liberal) Jews see the Tanakh as inspired writing by human beings who were searching for the Almighty. It has to be interpreted for each age. Some parts speak to every time, while others belong to the world in which they were written.
What this means for Jews today. For Orthodox Jews, the commands in the Torah, such as the laws for Shabbat, are the Almighty's will and must be kept. For Progressive Jews, each person and community studies the text and decides how its message applies today. This means they may keep some laws as they were given and understand others differently. Both groups still read the same books, treat them with respect and believe they can guide a good life.
The Oral Torah is explained fully in the lesson Mishnah, Talmud and Halakhah: The Oral Tradition.
The Torah is read in public worship. It is divided into weekly portions, each called a parashah, so that the whole Torah is read over a year. After the Torah reading, a haftarah from the Prophets is read. The Psalms are also used in the prayers and songs of services.
Jews may read the Psalms as private prayer. Many say the Shema, a passage from the Torah that declares the Almighty is one, morning and evening. Families may also study the weekly portion together, and verses from the Torah are placed in the mezuzah on the doorpost.
The Tanakh guides how to live. "Justice, justice you shall pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20) tells Jews to work for fairness, and "love your neighbour as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18) sets the standard for how to treat others. Jews turn to it when they face a moral choice.
Children learn the stories of Abraham and Moses from it. It records the history of the Jewish people, and it gives advice and comfort, for example in the Psalms and Proverbs.
The Tanakh connects Jews to the Almighty, to their history and to each other. When Jews around the world read the same weekly portion, they share one story. Whether they read it literally or metaphorically, it shapes their worship, family life and ideas about right and wrong.
Do not say that the Tanakh and the Torah are the same thing. The Torah is the first part of the Tanakh. Do not say that all Jews read the Torah literally, because Progressive Jews do not. Do not say that Progressive Jews do not respect the Tanakh. They do, but they interpret it differently. Do not say the Oral Torah is part of the Tanakh.
(a) Outline two ways in which the Tanakh is used in the synagogue. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the Tanakh is important for Jews. [6 marks]
(c) "The Torah is the only part of the Tanakh that Jews need." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view and your own opinion. [10 marks]
(a) One way is that the Torah is read in weekly portions (1), so that the whole Torah is read over a year (1). Another way is that a haftarah from the Prophets is read after the Torah (1), which links the weekly reading to the teaching of the prophets (1). Psalms used in the prayers would also be credited.
(b) The Tanakh is important because Jews believe it is the revelation of the Almighty (1), so it shows them what the Almighty wants and is the main source of authority in Judaism (1). It contains the Torah, which has the laws and teachings that Orthodox Jews believe were given to Moses and which they must obey (1). The Prophets remind Jews to keep the covenant and to treat other people fairly, so it guides their moral choices (1). It is used in worship, because the Torah and haftarah are read each week and the Psalms are used in prayer, so it shapes how Jews worship (1). It also tells the history of the Jewish people, which helps Jews of every group feel part of one community (1).
(c) Plan. For: the Torah is the holiest part, and Orthodox Jews believe it was given to Moses by the Almighty word for word. It contains the commands Jews must keep, such as Shabbat, so it could be said to be all they need. Against: the Prophets teach justice, and the Psalms are used in prayer, so Jews use all three parts. The Torah is also read together with the haftarah in the synagogue. Other views: Orthodox Jews see every word of the Torah as binding, while Progressive Jews read it as inspired human writing and use the Prophets' ideas about justice to interpret it. Possible conclusion: the Torah is the foundation, but Jews need all three parts, because the Prophets and Writings explain how to live out the Torah and give guidance and comfort.
In the 4-mark question, give two separate ways and add a short development to each. In the 10-mark question, name the Orthodox and Progressive views and finish with your own reasoned opinion.