LOGINTanach
Welcome to the Tanach!
The Bible is rich in history and full of inspiring narratives. It is exciting to read and stimulating to learn. In it, you will find stories and descriptions of the past alongside visions of the future, prophecy and wisdom, exhortation and consolation, halacha and morality, and much more.
But most importantly, the Tanach is the written word of G-d, serves as the foundation of the entire Torah and is full of lessons that enhance a person’s moral and spiritual journey.
In the words of the Talmud (Megillah 14a): There were 1,200,000 prophets throughout the era of prophecy, but only those prophecies that contained an eternal message for the Jewish people were recorded.
What is the Tanach?
Tanach is the Hebrew acronym for Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).
The Torah is divided into five books (and is therefore also known as the Five Books of Moses). It is the first and most important part of the Tanach. It contains the stories of creation, the patriarchs, the exodus from Egypt, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and the wanderings in the desert. The Torah also contains all the 613 commandments.
The Nevi’im can be divided into two sections: The first four books are the Nevi’im Harishonim (The Early Prophets). They pick up immediately after Moses’s passing, recording the conquest of the land of Israel, the rule of the Judges, the appointment of Saul as the first Jewish king, King David and his dynasty, etc.
The last four books are the Nevi’im Ha’acharonim (The Later Prophets). They contain prophecies of reprimand and inspiration, comfort and retribution, destruction and rebuilding, exile and redemption, and much more. Altogether, the Nevi’im comprises eight books.
The third section of Tanach is Ketuvim (Writings). As opposed to the Nevi’im, which were direct prophecies, the Ketuvim were composed with Divine inspiration (Ruach Hakodesh).
The Ketuvim contain works of wisdom, like the book of Job, and Proverbs, works of inspiration and prayer, like the book of Psalms (Tehillim), the Megillot: Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Ester. And finally, the Chronicles of the Jewish people.
There are a total of 24 books in the Tanach.
Tanach in Chayenu
Chayenu has partnered with Chabad House Publications to bring you an exciting new edition of Tanach in an easy-to-learn format. With English and Hebrew text side-by-side and an interpolated translation (based on Rashi’s commentary) for easy comprehension.
This new edition features a commentary culled from the teachings of Chasidus and particularly from the teachings of the Rebbe, which bring the eternal messages of the Prophets and the Writings to life.
Whether you are a novice or an experienced learner, this is a great time to master the entire Tanach.
This material is, at the moment, available only in your Chayenu.
The study of the Tanach, one chapter a week, is a perfect new study routine to initiate with your family or with a friend. Now is the time to begin your Tanach journey, one chapter a week!
The Importance of Tanach
Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish: “Just as a bride is adorned with twenty-four kinds of ornaments, so too, a Torah scholar must be proficient in the twenty-four books [of Tanach].”—Midrash Rabbah, Exodus Parsha 41 part 5
First, a person must master scripture [the Tanach], which is the root and beginning, and only afterwards Mishnah. Because Scripture is the roots of the ‘tree.’—Rabbi Yehudah Levai (Maharal of Prague), Tiferes Yisroel, ch. 56
Learning the Tanach at set times… takes precedence over everything. —Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (The Alter Rebbe), Hichos Talmud Torah 2:9
One should take care to learn all twenty-four books of the Tanach in a cycle. The early sages used to call the twenty-four books [of Tanach] “God’s Temple.”—Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (Chidah), Moreh BeEzbah 118
Chassidim, even those of average spiritual stature, used to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the Tanach. After their [daily] study of Mishnayos following the Morning Service, it was their regular custom to read chapters of Tanach while putting away their tallis and tefillin. Their schedule enabled them to complete the entire Tanach in three months. —Hayom Yom, 19 Adar I
Among [Rabbi Sholom Dovber’s] regular Torah-study sessions… reciting Tanach by heart. —Hayom Yom, 3 Nissan
