Torah Scrolls
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Pinkie Pointing and Splitting the Sea
Why does everyone hold up their pinkie and point it toward the Torah during the part of the service when the Torah scroll is held up for all to see? Answer:Â There is no law recorded in Shulchan Aruch (Jewish Code…
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Displaying a Torah Scroll
Is it proper for a Torah to be displayed in a cabinet in a business? We are curious about the rules for housing and displaying a Torah. Answer: Thanks for the question. A Torah is a holy living document, and…
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Why is it called a Tikkun?
Why is a the book used for learning Torah readings called a Tikkun? Answer: Good question. I do not think I’ve ever seen an answer quoted from a specific source but I would think it is because you can fix…
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42 Lines of the Torah Scroll
Rabbi, Why is the Torah Scroll written with 42 lines per page? Answer: Hi! Thanks for your interesting question. Sometimes you find that things can be done in many different ways. Over the course of time, sometimes we settle on…
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Wearing Torah Crown
A friend has offered to loan me a silver Torah crown to wear as part of a “kingly” costume. I am uneasy about doing so for fear of being disrespectful and/or worse. On the other hand, it is my understanding…
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Handwritten Torah Scroll
Why is the Torah still hand-copied today the same way it was in ancient times? There are very many reasons, but the reason that comes before all the other reasons is because G-d commanded it to be so. “V’atah kisvu…
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The “Yad” for the Torah Scroll
Why do we use a Yad when reading Torah? In general, why is it prohibited to touch the torah directly? Thank you You have actually answered your first question by asking your second question. A Yad is used in order…
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Writing Divine Names
What special regulations apply to writing Divine Names in a Torah scroll? The Talmud in Gittin 54b gives several rulings about the writing of Divine Names. More details are given in Soferim 5:6: After dipping his pen, the scribe shouldn't…
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The Torah Scroll
How is the Torah written, stored, and read? The Torah is written on a parchment scroll. It is kept in the synagogue in a cabinet called the Aron Kodesh ("holy ark"). Sections of it are read at the services on…