What is Torah?

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Torah is the compilation of the first five books of Scripture, namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  The Torah serves as the foundation to all subsequent understanding and interpretation of scripture.  The manner in which scripture is translated and interpreted so the latter scriptures, particularly the New Testament ("Brit Chadashah"), do not conflict with Torah commandments. Yahusha, the Messiah, did not come to establish a new religion or to do away with the Law of Moses, as He states in Matt. 5:17, but to make what was physical --now spiritual. Thus, making it even harder to keep the commandments without Yahusha's righteousness and grace and His Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Holy Spirit). 

Sin is breaking the Torah (cf. 1 John 3:4), all of the purity laws such as dietary restrictions and sabbath keeping are in the Torah, thus it is sinful to not keep the sabbath and to eat forbidden animals, among other social and religious observance laws. The ability to obey Yahuah's laws is an effect of His Grace and outpouring of the Ruach Ha'Kodesh onto His people. People would not be able to keep the laws absent of Yahuah's holiness, which shows why humans are sinners in need of a Savior. Yahusha said he did not come to change the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). This means that prior to Yahusha, Israel was attempting to obey Yahuah out of their own strength. 50 days after Yahusha rose was the first outpouring of the Ruach Ha'Kodesh (Pentecost). Once people had access to His Spirit and His Grace, obeying Yahuah's law went from impossible to possible.