Jewish Teaching

Written/Oral Torah, Tanach, mitzvot, Chumash, Shulchan Aruch, education and class-note ethical questions.

Source-locked: medical and family-planning cards reproduce course notes only and remain rabbi/medical-guidance items.

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Official questions

1. a) What is the Written Law? Give examples.
b) What is the Oral Law? Give examples.

Your study note: Written Law: Tanach, written as Torah was transmitted through Moshe from Hashem. Oral Law: Mishnah and Talmud; originally oral and later written when there was concern it would be forgotten.

2. Which major works comprise the Written and Oral Laws?

Your study note: Written Law — Tanach. Oral Law — Mishnah and Talmud.

3. Tanach is divided into three major sections. Name them.

Your study note: Torah, Neviim (Prophets), Ketuvim (Writings).

4. Name some positive and some negative commandments from the Torah.

SOURCE GAP/CHECK: The supplied note says only “Examples…” and does not list them.

5. What is the total number of Mitzvot?

Your study note: 613.

6. How many are negative and how many positive?

Your study note: 248 positive, 365 negative.

7. Explain the word Mitzvah. What does it mean to do one?

Your study note: A commandment — fulfilling Hashem’s will.

8. Name the five books of Moses.

Your study note: Bereshit/Genesis, Shemot/Exodus, Vayikra/Leviticus, Bamidbar/Numbers, Devarim/Deuteronomy.

9. What is the Pentateuch called in Hebrew?

Your study note: Chumash.

10. What is the Shulchan Aruch?

Your study note: A code of Jewish law (halachah).

11. Why is religious instruction vital for a Jewish child? At what age does the obligation to study end?

Your study note: So a child knows how to live and keep mitzvot. The obligation to study never ends.

12. What is the greatest challenge for Judaism? Give reasons.

Your study note: Assimilation, because it can lead a Jew to stop living as a Jew.

13. Outline basic differences between Orthodoxy and other religious movements in Judaism.

Your study note: In the note’s framing, Orthodoxy keeps halachah as binding, while Conservative/Reform allow greater change/flexibility in religious practice.

14. What is the Jewish attitude towards abortion?

Your study note: The note says prohibited except when needed to protect the mother. Practical cases require qualified rabbinic and medical guidance.

15. What is the Jewish attitude towards self-defense?

Your study note: Permitted, including defending against someone trying to kill you.

16. What is the Jewish attitude towards donating organs?

Your study note: The note is restrictive but gives exception when an organ can immediately save a life; rejects experimentation/storing for future use. Real decisions need qualified rabbinic and medical guidance.

17. What is the Jewish attitude towards euthanasia?

Your study note: Not allowed; note distinguishes actively ending life from decisions about beginning life support. Practical end-of-life cases require qualified guidance.

20. What is the Jewish attitude towards birth control?

Your study note: Note says a woman may use a birth-control pill while a man may not use birth control. Practical family planning requires a personal rabbinic ruling.