The Torah

Pentateuch, the law, the first five books of the Bible
 
The Torah, or Pentateuch (Five Scrolls), is the name given to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together they form the heart and foundation of Judaism. These divinely inspired books describe the first encounter of humanity with God and his love, will, guidance and teaching for all of us.
 
The Torah is the light for all of our Jewish brothers and sisters. Without these books, it would be very difficult for anyone to make sense of what follows in the Sacred Scriptures.
 
On Dec. 6, 1990, Saint John Paul II shared some insights on the Torah.
 
“When we consider Jewish tradition, we see how profoundly you venerate Sacred Scripture, the Migra, and in particular the Torah. You live in a special relationship with the Torah, the living teaching of the living God. You study it with love in the Talmud Torah, so as to put it into practice with joy. Its teaching on love, on justice and on the law is reiterated in the prophets – Nevi’im, and in the Ketuvim. God, his holy Torah, the synagogal liturgy and family traditions, the Land of holiness, are surely what characterize your people from the religious point of view. And, these are things that constitute the foundation of our dialogue and of our cooperation.”
 
Catholics embrace the Torah also. It gives us many insights into our covenant relationship with God. But, for us, a much greater light, not disconnected from the Torah, has been given.
 
Pope Benedict XVI, in his Easter Vigil homily in April 2009, focused on this point.
 
“In the Old Testament, the Torah was considered to be like the light coming from God for the world and for humanity. The Torah separates light from darkness within creation, that is to say, good from evil. It points out to humanity the right path to true life. It points out the good, it demonstrates the truth and it leads us toward love, which is the deepest meaning contained in the Torah. It is a ‘lamp’ for our steps and a ‘light’ for our path. Christians, then, knew that in Christ, the Torah is present, the Word of God is present in him as person.”
 
“The Word of God is the true light that humanity needs. This word is present in him, in the son. Psalm 19 had compared the Torah to the sun that manifests God’s glory as it rises, for all the world to see. Christians understand: yes indeed, in the resurrection, the Son of God has emerged as the light of the world. Christ is the great light from which all life originates. He enables us to recognize the glory of God from one end of the earth to the other. He points out our path. He is the Lord’s day, which, as it grows, is gradually spreading throughout the earth. Now, living with him and for him, we can live in the light.”
 
While the first five books of the Bible aren’t necessarily the best place to begin to study the Bible (I would recommend starting with the gospels), they are an important place to go to when searching for the beginnings of our faith.
 
I’ll finish with a short prayer, attributed to Rabbi Yohanan, to be offered prior to the reading/studying the Torah, which, thanks to Pope Benedict XVI, I will always see connected to Christ himself.
 
“Lord God, make the words of your Torah be pleasant in our mouths so that we shall know your name and be busy with your torah. Praised be God who teaches his people Israel Torah."