Hebrew Texts Glossary
Gemara
A section within the Talmud which supplements the main component, the
Mishnah, by providing further interpretation and elaboration of important
texts.
Haggadah Hebrew word for "telling" includes all the stories, narrations and legends
that form the Talmud. It is important for providing wisdom and insight
into principles of Jewish life.
Halakhah The Hebrew term for "walking'" refers to the collective body of Jewish
rabbinic law, custom and tradition. The halakhah is the legal component
of the Talmud, which is comprised of the rules and laws for living.
Ketuvim
Or 'writings' refers to the final section of the three portions of the Hebrew
bible.
Mishnah
The first and more important recording of the Oral Torah which was
finalised in written form around 200 CE. The Mishnah contained
expositions and interpretations of legal sections of the books of Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Mitzvot
The Hebrew word meaning 'commandment'. It refers to the 613
requirements detailed in the Torah.
Nevi'im
Or Prophets is the second of the three sections of the Hebrew Bible. This
section can be divided into two groups known as the Major Prophets and
the Minor Prophets.
Oral
Torah
The interpretation and application of the Torah to changing circumstances
over successive generations passed on by word of mouth from generation
to generation. This ensured that the principles of the Torah could be
applied to each new generation. When the Oral Torah came to be written
down, it formed the Talmud.
Tenak
It is an acronym which represents the three sections of the Hebrew Bible,
Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim. Tenak comes from the first letter of the
name of each section.
Torah
The Hebrew word meaning 'law' or 'teaching' refers to the first and most
significant section of the Hebrew Bible. The Torah contains 5 books
which are variously known as the books of the law, the books of Moses
and the Pentateuch. It is also custom at times to use the term 'Torah' to
refer generally to the whole Hebrew bible