The word Torah literally means ‘instruction’ or ‘teaching’ and refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. However, it can also mean the whole of Jewish teaching. It is the central and most important document of the Jewish religion and has been used as the basis of the Jewish faith throughout its history. Most Jews believe that God dictated the Torah to Moses during the forty days he spent on Mount Sinai. The five books of Moses are therefore of the greatest importance to Jews as they contain the mitzvot (commandments) by which they are to live as people chosen by God. The five books of Moses contain 613 commandments in all, which show how God wants Jews to live. They also set out the ethical ideals of the Jewish people. The Jewish faith is centred upon the Torah which acts as the primary means by which God communicates with human beings. The Torah contains all of the mitzvot required in order to practise the religion; and acts as the means by which Jews can maintain their part of the covenant relationship which was made with God at Sinai. The notion of the pre-existence of the Torah has been a basis for philosophical rabbinic debate throughout the centuries. Jewish tradition tells us Moses received the Torah from God at Mount Sinai. However, according to rabbinic tradition, the Torah is one of seven things which were created before the world existed, and that it was present in heaven before God revealed it to Moses. Orthodox Jews believe that as well as being given the written Torah on Mount Sinai, Moses also received the oral law that was to be passed down, initially by word of mouth, from one generation to another until eventually being written down in the form of the Mishnah, the Talmud and the Midrash. These continue to provide the basis for further discussion and interpretation by rabbis and yeshiva students. The Sefer Torah is the holiest object in the synagogue, and the way in which it is dressed and treated emphasises this very fact. It is kept in the Holy Ark, a cupboard which is usually built into the East wall of the synagogues in the United Kingdom, as this is the direction of Jerusalem. The Ark represents the golden box which contained the Ten Commandments in the original Temple in that city. (403 words)