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The Old Testament (also known as the Old Covenant) was given by God to the Israelites well before Christ came to earth. It told the Israelites how to live and sacrifice to God, until the Messiah came and fulfilled the old testament. Today we can read the old testament and learn how things were performed as Israel awaited Christ. Because Jesus Christ has already come, died, and risen, many of the things (such as sacrifices) in the old testament are no longer required. To learn more about what is still in affect today, you can read the New Testament which is located in the second half of the Bible.
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∙ 14y ago
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∙ 13y agoThe story the Old Testament tells us is one about the origins of the Jewish nation. It includes the myths, legends, traditions and some history of the forebears of the ancient Jews, showing how they overcame all difficulties with the help of their God, but always seemed ungrateful and backsliding. It includes two different creation stories, two quite similar versions of the ancient flood story, a legendary explanation for the divergence of languages and the origins of the Hebrew people, their enslavement in Egypt and subsequent escape to conquer the land of the Canaanites, where they developed a great and prosperous nation. The Book of Esther is entirely non-religious, but shows how great the Hebrew people are compared to others. The Book of Daniel, believed to be the last book of the Hebrew Bible to be written, dated to approximately 147 BCE.
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∙ 11y agoThey teach us that, God promised the Messiah to the humanity. God Chose Abraham and later nation Israel to bring that Messiah to the world through this nation. Later, God Chose tribe of Jude and the family of David to bring this Messiah. Throughout the History, God divided 10 tribes one side who later almost lost the name Israel and became Samaritans. But God separated other two tribes Jude and Benjamin and God protected the Line Jude who are known as Jews because He planed to bring Messiah to the world through the tribe of Jude. Thus, later Jesus Christ was born among the Jews in the tribe of Jude. Hence, it is purely a story of the God's promised Messiah the Christ who is Jesus Christ to the world. Jesus is the Saviour of the World and He came for whole humanity. To bring Him God moved in that line and old testament stands in line with that.
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∙ 11y agoOld testament (In Catholic Bible at least) talks about all the events that happened before birth of Jesus.
It includes things such as Noe, Abraham, Moses and many other important characters.
It is also very important to the Jews.
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∙ 6y agoThe Old Testament tells us about the creation of the earth and all that is in it, including the creation of man and man's special relationship with God. The first man and woman break their relationship with God and all people born after that time are alienated from God. God however promised to redeem mankind from their state of separation from God.
As mankind multiplied their wickedness increased and God brought judgement on the earth in the form of a universal flood.
The population of the earth increased again and God chose a man, Abraham, through whom God would reveal Himself as saviour. Abraham's descendants grew in number and as a result of famine in the land they ended up in Egypt. Abraham's descendants continued to grow in number and 400 years after they went to Egypt they had become slaves to the Egyptians. God chose Moses to deliver them from slavery and lead them to the land God has promised to give to them, Abraham's decedents become the nation of Israel.
God instructed His people - Israel - how to live in the land, but Israel turned away from God and God had to chastise them again and again. Much of the Old Testament is about the nation of Israel and their struggles to obey God in the land God gave them.
Finally God brought the Babylonians to conquer Israel and take them captive. For about 70 years the people of Israel were slaves in Babylon. When circumstances changed Cyrus the Persian allowed the Israelites to go back to their land.
After their exile the Israelites showed a renewed enthusiasm for God but after some years they fell away again.
The Old Testament is not just narrative about the history of man and the history of the nation of Israel some of the books in the Old Testament are prophecies concerning Israel, the promised redeemer and the end of the world. Some of the writing consists of the laws God gave to Israel, some is poetry.
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∙ 10y agoOur tradition is that the Torah is from God (Exodus 24:12), given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism.
The Torah is a source of national pride for us (see Deuteronomy 4:6-8).
It increases our reverence towards God; crystallizes, strengthens and codifies our beliefs; insures our awareness and knowledge of our history; and provides powerful impetus to be ethical.
It makes us stand in awe of God, while also providing optimism and comfort through the prophecies of redemption. It inspires us to strive for holiness and informs us how to pray and to approach God's presence.
It gives us a great deal of general information, guidance and advice.
And it sets detailed laws, practices and traditions for us.
The laws themselves have various reasons. Some (such as the Passover) serve to reenact or remember events of our history.
Some (such as saying the Shema prayer) serve to reiterate our belief in God.
Some of the laws (such as those of ritual purity and kosher food) serve to sanctify us.
Some (such as the laws of torts) serve to maintain an orderly society.
Some (such as the law against breaking a vow) serve to prevent bad character traits.
Some (such as the command to offer help) serve to engender good character traits.
And all of the commands serve to subjugate us to God's will (especially those commands for which no explanation is easily apparent).
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∙ 8y agoThe Hebrew Bible (sometimes called the O.T.) tells the history of the ancient Israelites, as well as giving us the teachings of such prophets as Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah, the stories of kings like David and Saul, and the ethics and beliefs of the Jewish religion. Some of the prophetical chapters (or books) detail past events, some exhort the people to improve their spiritual level, some predict events and/or warn (especially concerning the First Destruction), some serve to comfort the nation, some speak of prayer and love of God, and some speak of life, experience and wisdom.
Tradition states that the Hebrew Bible is from God (Exodus 24:12), given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism. It crystallized, strengthened and codified Jewish belief; insured our (the Jews') awareness and knowledge of our identity and history; and provided powerful impetus to be ethical. It made us stand in awe of God, while also providing optimism and comfort through the prophecies of redemption. It inspired us to strive for holiness and informed us how to pray and to approach God's presence.
And it set detailed laws, practices and traditions for us forever.
See also:
How is the Hebrew Bible presented?
How has the Hebrew Bible influenced Western society?
What is the history of the Hebrew Bible?
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∙ 11y agolife
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Why is the Torah important to Jewish boys?
The Torah is important to all Jews as it is the foundation of Judaism and contains the core guidelines that teach us how to live righteously.
What is the Conclusion of Orthodox Judiasm?
We follow the Torah to the best of our abilities. we believe in one G-D and that the Torah is all from Him. we believe in what our great rabbis/sages teach us.
When did the Jews teach their kids the Torah?
After they were born.
Who teaches the Torah?
Anyone who has learned Torah can teach those who know less.
What is a haftorah and what's it used for?
the hartorah is a reading from the books that follow the 5 books of the Torah;the Niveeim (prophets). it isn't really "used" for anything, it serves the same purpose as the Torah, to teach us lessons and to help us improve our life as a community and as individuals
What does the bible teach Jews about the creation of the world?
The Torah makes it clear to us that the world was created by God in a deliberate, purposeful act, and not as a fluke of blind chance.
What was education like in a jewish family?
Education has always been paramount to Jews. The Torah commands us to learn and teach, and especially to teach our own children. In Talmud Torah, in Yeshiva, and also when at home, children are taught Torah and Torah-subjects. Illiteracy has always been extremely low among Jews, even in eras when the surrounding nations were largely illiterate. Torah-learning is intensive, both requiring as well as inculcating high intelligence. As soon as babies begin to understand the spoken word, Jewish parents start accustoming them to verses of Torah and whichever laws and customs they can comprehend. Excellence in Torah is always encouraged and rewarded.
Where does Torah refer to swimming?
The phrase 'bathing for pleasure' is used. gemara Taanis (13a). It is also traditional -- perhaps not in Torah -- that the Jewish parent is obligated to teach his child to swim. Swimming is an allegory for two things, surviving in a world where the Jew is not the majority, and because the ocean represents chaos, surviving and overcoming and making sense out of chaos.
What is the meaning of Hillel's explanation of the Torah?
When someone demanded that Hillel sum up the Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel responded with: "That which is hateful to yourself, do not do to others. The rest is commentary, now go study the commentary." What this means is that the goal of the Torah is to teach us how to interact with the world. That if you wouldn't want something done to yourself, don't do it to anyone else. In regard to the rest being 'commentary', that refers to the guidelines and teachings found in the Torah that help us work toward this goal.
How did Medellsohn teach the German language to Jews?
Mendelsohn, an assimilating Jew, translated the Torah into German.
What does the Torah teach Jews?
How to live. The Torah is vast; covering belief, observance, history and information. See the attached Related Links for some info.
Why do you study about Hanukkah?
We study about Hanukkah because it is part of our tradition and therefore is considered a Torah-subject. It is mentioned in such Torah-sources as the Mishna, the Talmud, and Megillat Taanit. Hanukkah has certain lessons to teach us, such as the value of self-sacrifice and the need to avoid assimilation. It is also a time of thanksgiving to God.
