What is the Sefer Torah?

The lecture discusses the unique nature of the Torah scroll, that is, the combination of sets of rules at the heart of the historical story. The question also arises as to why the Torah stands on its own, separated from the books of the early prophets that are a direct continuation, and what are the consequences of this separation. An examination of the various divisions of the Torah indicates their meaning.

Yair Zakovitch is emeritus professor in the Department of Biblical Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.