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Torah

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The central reference of Judaism, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Pentateuch.

Detailed Definition
The Torah is considered the revealed word of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai, containing both the written law and the oral tradition. It is the blueprint of creation and the guide for Jewish life. In poetry, the Torah symbolizes divine wisdom, law, and the sacred story of a people's covenant with God. It can represent light, a tree of life, and a precious gift. Poets invoke the Torah to speak of tradition, the search for meaning in sacred text, and the living voice of God that continues to speak through scripture.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Jewish poetry, Torah is living tree: “Etz chayim—Torah, roots in Sinai, branches in every generation”; In medieval verse, Torah is bride: “Simchat Torah—dance with scroll as wedding joy”; In contemporary poetry, Torah is wrestled: “Marginal notes—Torah debated, loved, questioned”; Poets describe Torah’s light: “Black fire on white fire—Torah, words that burn and heal.”
Additional Notes
The Torah, meaning “instruction,” encompasses not only the Five Books of Moses but also the broader body of Jewish teaching; it is read publicly in synagogues and treated with profound reverence—often adorned with silver crowns and breastplates; in poetry, the Torah symbolizes divine wisdom, covenantal relationship, and the living word that “is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12) but accessible to human engagement.
Also Known As
Pentateuch Five Books of Moses Sefer Torah
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