A few basic questions?

If the Torah is the 1st 5 books of the OT, do the rest of them have a name collectively?

Is there, from a Jewish perspective, a good translation of the Torah and/or OT available in English?

Why does the OT end when is does and are there further writings that continue the documentation of Jewish history from that point forward?

Is there a hierarchy among Jewish religious leaders?

juggy4711 wrote:If the Torah is the 1st 5 books of the OT, do the rest of them have a name collectively?

Is there, from a Jewish perspective, a good translation of the Torah and/or OT available in English?

Why does the OT end when is does and are there further writings that continue the documentation of Jewish history from that point forward?

Is there a hierarchy among Jewish religious leaders?

The Hebrew Bible is broken into 3 sections the first 5 books being the Torah, Also referred to as the Chumash) the Prophets (Neviim) and the writings (Kesuvim) together they make up what we refer to as the Tanach

The best English translation you can probably find is the Stone Edition which includes Hebrew and English ( you can also get an English or Hebrew only Version) I have a paperback English only for travel and also a Hebrew/English student sized one for home.
The Chumash and the subsequent books of the Bible you can get individually also from artscroll. In this form they tend to have a lot more commentary than just the Standard Tanach I mentioned but it can get expensive. So Far the Series itself in My home Library Includes the Chumash, Joshua, Judges, Kings,..
http://www.amazon.com/Tanach-OE-Stone-Student-Rabbi-Nosson-Scherman/dp/1578191122/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314192170&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Chumash-Stone-ArtScroll-Mesorah/dp/0899060145/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1314192201&sr=1-1

Almost all my Books including Talmud for my personal use I get here:

http://www.artscroll.com/index.html?gclid=CKHcrcyD6KoCFQbe4AodLh7D_A

The last of the Prophets Ends with Malachi because we were to get no more Prophets.

juggy4711 wrote:If the Torah is the 1st 5 books of the OT, do the rest of them have a name collectively?

Is there, from a Jewish perspective, a good translation of the Torah and/or OT available in English?

Why does the OT end when is does and are there further writings that continue the documentation of Jewish history from that point forward?

Is there a hierarchy among Jewish religious leaders?

I think Arik did a good job here. About a hierarchy, yes and no. We have Gedolim in every generation who are our leaders, but we won't ever have one leader until Moshiach comes.

Thanks for the responses.

First let me make sure I have this right...

Chumash = Torah?
Naviim = Book 6 of the OT through Malachi?
Kesuvim = Further books after Malachi?

Some follow up questions...

So some form of hierarchy but nothing like the Catholic Church? To my knowledge, Judaism has no Pope analog, but I recall references to High Priests in the OT. What makes one a High Priest vs a Priest?

Is a priest the English translation of Rabbi? If not is there one?

Can Chumash and Torah be used inter changeably, or is there a minute difference in the usage?

Does Tanach have an English translation other than the collective name for the Torah, Neviim and the Kesuvim?

Does the Kesuvim pick-up where the Neviim left off or is there a gap?

What does Talmud mean?

Is leaders a direct translation of Gedolim?

juggy4711 wrote:Thanks for the responses.

First let me make sure I have this right...

Chumash = Torah?
Naviim = Book 6 of the OT through Malachi?
Kesuvim = Further books after Malachi?

Some follow up questions...

So some form of hierarchy but nothing like the Catholic Church? To my knowledge, Judaism has no Pope analog, but I recall references to High Priests in the OT. What makes one a High Priest vs a Priest?

Is a priest the English translation of Rabbi? If not is there one?

n m

Does Tanach have an English translation other than the collective name for the Torah, Neviim and the Kesuvim?

Does the Kesuvim pick-up where the Neviim left off or is there a gap?

What does Talmud mean?

Is leaders a direct translation of Gedolim?

Chumash = Torah?
Naviim = Book 6 of the OT through Malachi?
Kesuvim = Further books after Malachi?


Yes, Chumash= 5 books of Moses. In greek it is called the Pentateuch. Yes that is the Torah.
Navaiim prophets yep.

The writings include Ecclesiastes, Daniel, Ruth, Esther, Job, etc.. yep.



So some form of hierarchy but nothing like the Catholic Church? To my knowledge, Judaism has no Pope analog, but I recall references to High Priests in the OT. What makes one a High Priest vs a Priest?


The high priests belonged to the Kohen group that traced its paternal line back to Aaron, the first Kohen Gadol and brother of Moses.



Is a priest the English translation of Rabbi? If not is there one?

In modern usage, Rabbi simply means "teacher"


Does Tanach have an English translation other than the collective name for the Torah, Neviim and the Kesuvim?

WE call it the Hebrew Bible


Does the Kesuvim pick-up where the Neviim left off or is there a gap?

No they don't simply pick up where the Prophets leave off. The writings are not meant so much as "Divine Messages" but they were ordained by G-d that they be part of scripture. The reasons vary. Some like Chronicles and Esther and Ruth provide perspectives on history, other like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes provide wisdom for living a better life or may allude to future redemption like the book of Daniel.



What does Talmud mean?

It means "learning, instruction"


Is leaders a direct translation of Gedolim

No it means "great" They are Rabbis held in very high esteem. Or Rabbinic leaders.

What is a Kohen Gadol?

juggy4711 wrote:What is a Kohen Gadol?

Kohen = Priest
Gadol = High (Large, etc.)

Kohen Gadol = High Priest