Too Many Books
This sacred object isn't a book at all! It's taken out every week, and during Simchat Torah we might see all of it.
What is a Torah Scroll?
This collection of oral tradition, Jewish law, and lots of debate has two major versions, Babylonian and Jerusalem.
What is the Talmud (תַּלְמוּד)?
Literally translating to "telling", this text containing the story of the Jews' exodus from Egypt is read during the Passover seder.
What is a Haggadah (הגדה)?
This text contains only the 5 books of Moses: Genesis/Bereishit, Exodus/Shemot, Leviticus/Vayikra, Numbers/Bamidbar, Deuteronomy/Devarim.
What is Torah (תּוֹרָה)?
This weekly reading from the Torah is read during services directly from the Torah scroll.
What is a Parsha (פָּרָשָׁה)?
This type of book containing weekly prayers and other texts can be found in a synagogue sanctuary to use during services.
What is a Siddur (סִדּוּר)?
This collection of Jewish oral tradition was compiled around 200 CE, and later became the basis for both versions of the Talmud.
What is Mishnah (מִשְׁנָה)?
These 5 texts are part of the Writings section of the Tanakh. They are usually found in the form of a scroll, and each one is read on a different holiday.
What are Megillot (מְגִילוֹת)?
This text contains the 5 books of Moses, the Prophets/Nevi'im, and Writings/Ketuvim.
What is Tanakh (תַּנַ״ךְ)?
This weekly reading from the Prophets/Nevi'im is read alongside the Torah portion in services each week.
What is Haftarah (הַפְטָרָה)?
This type of sacred text contains scholarly ways to understand the 5 books of Moses.
What is a Torah Commentary?
This type of Jewish biblical interpretation is meant to "fill in the gaps" of traditional Jewish texts by adding context, or creating new stories. People are still creating modern works in this genre today.
What is Midrash (מִדְרָשׁ)?
This prayer book is used during the High Holidays (Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur).
What is a Machzor (מחזור)?
This section of the Tanakh contains books about people who act as spokespeople for God, often warning people to change their ways. Books included in this section are Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve minor ones of these.
What are the Prophets/Nevi'im (נְבִיאִים)?
This Hebrew word means "holy" or "sacred".
What is Kadosh (קָדוֹשׁ)?
This type of book contains the Torah (5 books of Moses) and, often, the associated haftarah readings. It may or may not included.
What is a Chumash (חומש)?
This rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah is a major part of Talmudic literature, although the contents vary greatly between the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud.
What is Gemara (גמרא)?
This scroll, telling the story of Jewish victory over persecution in Persia is read on the holiday of Purim.
What is the Book of Esther/Megillat Esther (מְגִלַּת אֶסְתֵּר)?
This final section of the Tanakh contains the 5 megillot, Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and the Book of Chronicles.
What are the Writings/Ketuvim (כְּתוּבִים)?
This word describes the traditional, structured prayers, actions, and rituals used in Jewish worship.
What is Liturgy?
Will also accept Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה), although this is not an exact translation.
This early work of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) dives deeper into how the universe came into existence. The origins of this book are not agreed on by modern scholars.
What is the Book of Formation/Sefer Yetzirah (סֵפֶר יְצִירָה)?
This foundational text of Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) was written in 12th-13th century Spain. This text discusses the nature of God, creation, the soul, and the self through commentary on traditional texts from Torah.
What is the Zohar (זֹהַר)?
This scroll, one of the 5 Megillot, tells the story of two lovers in pursuit of each other and is read during the holiday of Passover. It is often interpreted as a metaphor for the loving relationship between God and the Jewish people.
What is the Song of Songs/Shir ha-Shirim (שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים)?
This book is a version of Torah used by the Beta Israel community in Ethiopia, written in the Ge'ez language. It includes all of the books used in the Torah traditionally as well as some others that are not considered "official" in other Jewish communities.
What is the Orit (אוֹרִית)?
This collection of over 900 ancient Jewish manuscripts from the second temple period was found on the Northern shore of the Dead Sea between 1946 and 1956.
What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?