How is a Torah scroll How is a Torah scroll made?made?

How is the Torah revered?How is the Torah revered?

Torah means "teaching" and refers to the five books of Moses – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

A Torah scroll is made A Torah scroll is made from sheets of from sheets of parchment, which is parchment, which is made from the skin of a made from the skin of a kosher kosher animal.animal.

It is written by hand in It is written by hand in Hebrew by a professional Hebrew by a professional scribe, called a scribe, called a sofer.sofer. Hebrew is read right to Hebrew is read right to left.left.

The sofer takes at least The sofer takes at least one year to write out the one year to write out the TorahTorah..

He is not allowed to write He is not allowed to write from memory. He must from memory. He must copy from a book of the copy from a book of the Torah, and keep Torah, and keep checking for mistakes. checking for mistakes. Letters must not be Letters must not be smudged or touch smudged or touch another letter.another letter.

If the If the sofersofer makes a makes a mistake, he scrapes off the mistake, he scrapes off the letters using a glass tool.letters using a glass tool.

The most sacred word that The most sacred word that he writes is the Hebrew he writes is the Hebrew name for God. He cannot name for God. He cannot correct this – he must start correct this – he must start the whole sheet of the whole sheet of parchment again. The parchment again. The sheet with the error on is sheet with the error on is buried in a Jewish buried in a Jewish cemetery.cemetery.

When all the sheets of When all the sheets of parchment are finished, parchment are finished, they are sewn together they are sewn together and wound around and wound around wooden rollers.wooden rollers.

The Torah is regarded The Torah is regarded as holy, and is as holy, and is decorated as beautifully decorated as beautifully as possible. as possible.

It has a velvet cover It has a velvet cover called a mantle.called a mantle.

A silver breastplate is A silver breastplate is hung on the front of it, hung on the front of it, like the one worn by like the one worn by High Priests in Biblical High Priests in Biblical times.times.This is decorated with This is decorated with Jewish symbols.Jewish symbols.

Bells are attached so Bells are attached so people hear it being people hear it being carried around the carried around the synagogue.synagogue.

There is also a silver There is also a silver pointer called a pointer called a yad.yad.

A A yadyad (meaning (meaning hand) is used by Jews hand) is used by Jews to keep their place to keep their place when reading from when reading from the Torah scroll. the Torah scroll.

This is to show This is to show respect for the scroll respect for the scroll and to prevent the and to prevent the parchment being parchment being spoiled by oil from spoiled by oil from their fingers. their fingers.

When the Torah is not When the Torah is not being used, it is kept in being used, it is kept in a special cupboard at a special cupboard at the front of the the front of the synagogue, called an synagogue, called an Ark. Ark.

This reminds Jews of the This reminds Jews of the Ark of the Covenant in Ark of the Covenant in which Moses and his which Moses and his people carried the Ten people carried the Ten Commandments.Commandments.

Can you remember how a Torah is Can you remember how a Torah is made?made?

Can you remember how it is Can you remember how it is decorated?decorated?

How do the Jews show they revere How do the Jews show they revere the Torah? the Torah?