Many Jewish beliefs have their basis on a document. Just as Christians have the Bible to guide their ways, Muslims have the Coran and so on, Jewish people consider the Torah as the most important document and the basis their beliefs.

The Torah can also be called The Five Books of Moses, because it is believed to be the word of God which was revealed to Moses. The five books include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, each with its own meaning.

The Genesis is also called the First Book of Moses. The content of this book makes reference to the history of the world starting from the Creation until the Children of Israel (Israelites) descended into Ancient Egypt. It also tells a lot of stories found in the Old Testament like Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the story of Noah’s Ark and many more.

The second book is called the Exodus, in translation ‘departure’. The beginning of the book displays the Israelites already settled in Egypt and growing in numbers. Moses is the only child that escapes the massacre of the Pharaoh. Fleeing in Egypt, he returns to Egypt to free the people of Israel. After God displays His powers, the Israelites are freed and start their journey through the wilderness.

The exact period in history the Exodus makes reference to cannot be established. The third book, Leviticus, strays from historic narrations. The first part of the book contains a major part of the priestly code with descriptions of rituals, while the second part refers to the holiness code.

The Book of Numbers is named so because of its subject. It emphasizes on the numbering of the people, first at Mount Sinai and then on the plain of Moab. Thirty eight years and ten months are described in this book as a period of wandering.

The fifth and final book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, emphasizes on the three sermons received by the Israelites from Moses on the second to last month of their final year of wandering. The end of the book is concordant with the death of Moses. This is a summarized description of the Torah. But what is the relationship of this book with the Kabbalah?

Many Jews consider the Kabbalah as a part of the study of the inner meanings in Torah. The four levels of Torah study are: Peshat, the meaning on the surface, Remez, the allegories and allusions, Derash, new lessons read by rabies into the text and Sod, mystical reading of inner secrets. The last level, Sod, is also named Kabbalah.

There have been lots of disputes regarding the actual origins of the term Kabbalah. Regardless, it is now the most common term used to describe the esoteric knowledge and practices of the Jewish people. The book of Zohar is considered by many a very important, if not the most important work regarding Kabbalah.

For believers, the understanding of Kabbalah takes them closer to God, from a spiritual point of view. Inscriptions from the Torah and other symbols with a very powerful meaning are now used as an inspiration for jewelry and pendants believed to bring the wearer good fortune.

Every important document enjoys lots of interpretations. The Kabbalah is the most advanced level of understanding the Torah. For avid adherents and believers, displaying their beliefs with a pendant or ring inscribed with Kabbalah teachings is common.