Torah, Talmud and Halakha: the foundations of Judaism

The origins of Judaism date back more than 3,000 years. It is the oldest religion based on belief in one single God. The Torah, the five Books of Moses, is the core of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh). It tells the story of the People of Israel and contains laws, commandments and teachings fundamental to Jewish life. The Talmud contains writings that rabbis use to explain and interpret the Torah. The rabbi is the central religious authority of the Jewish community. As spiritual teachers, rabbis continue to interpret the Torah in light of contemporary issues.The Halakha is the body of Jewish religious laws that regulates all aspects of life. It is based on the Torah, the Talmud and later rabbinical decisions and it provides instructions on religious rituals, ethics, social relationships, sexuality, nutrition, holidays and much more.