The Torah is the holiest scripture of Judaism and consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. According to religious belief, God provided these commandments directly to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Torah does not only describe the cosmology of the universe and the early history of mankind; it also compiles 613 commandments or 'Mitzvot' to guide the lives of the Jewish people. It is more than just a scripture; it is a moral and legal framework for Jews that has sustained their culture and spiritual existence for thousands of years.
Traditionally, the Torah is preserved with great honor in synagogues as a hand-written scroll (Sefer Torah) made of animal parchment. A specific portion is read each week, and through a year-long cycle, the reading of the entire Torah is completed. Its content begins with the creation (Genesis) and concludes with the death of Moses and the Israelites reaching the edge of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy). The teachings of the Torah later served as the foundation not only for Judaism but also for the world's major Abrahamic religions, including Christianity and Islam.