What is the Written Torah? And the Oral Torah?
Written Torah: the Five Books of Moses. Oral Torah: what Moses received along with the Torah and was passed down orally from generation to generation
Source: Pirkei Avot 1:1
In detail
The Written Torah (Torah SheBichtav) consists of the Five Books of Moses, the text given directly from God to Moses at Sinai and written down. The Oral Torah (Torah SheBe'al Peh) is the explanations, interpretations, and applications that Moses received alongside the Written Torah and passed down orally from teacher to student for generations. It was eventually compiled into the Mishnah (c. 200 CE) and the Talmud (c. 500 CE) to prevent it from being forgotten.
Full study guide: Jewish Theology
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