Torah Judaism
The term Torah Judaism is a term recently coined by many within Orthodox Jews to describe themselves. The term is a statement of their belief that they adhere to the laws of the Torah (five books of Moses) and that all other Jews do not. Some Ultra-Orthodox Jews use this term to describe themselves exclusively, and they label Modern Orthodox Jews as outside the pale of normative Judaism; they also hold that all non-Orthodox forms of Judaism are also outside the pale of Judaism. Others within Ultra-Orthodoxy hold that both their groups and Modern Orthodox groups together are Torah Judaism.
Some Modern Orthodox Jews, and all non-Orthodox Jews generally reject the term because it implies that those who use this name have an exclusive right to interpret the Torah, to the exclusion of all other schools in Judaism, including some Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox ones.
The Torah is composed of both a "written tradition" (the five books of Moses, which Jews have traditionally believed was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai), along with an Oral law. Judaism's Oral law encompasses explanations, details, and reasoning about the Torah. The oral law was first codified in the Mishnah around 200 C.E., the Talmud of the land of Israel (aka Talmud Yerushalmi) around 450 CE, and the Talmud of Babylonia (Babylonian Talmud) around 550 CE. Although the Talmud records debates among Rabbis over the meaning of the Torah and Jewish law, Orthodox Jews accept the Talmud's claims that these debates reflect knowledge originally revealed by God at Mount Sinai.
All denominations of Jews, including non-Orthodox Jews, believe that the Oral law takes precedence over a literal reading of the written Law. Although [[rabbi]s have always been aware of significant discrepancies between the Written Law and the Oral Law, Orthodox Jews believe that these discrepancies are only superficial, and that the Oral Law constitutes the correct interpretation and exposition of the Written Law. For example, the Torah says that an eye must be paid for an eye that is damaged. The Talmud says that it means money and provides proof.