Obj. ID: 37282 Torah pointer, France, circa 1850
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The following description was prepared by William Gross:
The pointer used by the Torah reader to keep the place is known in European communities as the *yad, "hand," or the etẓba, "finger," and in Sephardi and Eastern communities as the moreh, "pointer," or kulmus, "quill," the former because of its function and the latter because of its shape. Halakhic sources also use the terms moreh or kulmus. The pointer was originally a narrow rod, tapered at the pointing end, usually with a hole at the other end through which a ring or chain could be passed to hang the pointer on the Torah scroll. An additional reason for using the pointer was to prevent the oily finger from touching the parchment and inked letter, something that would eventually cause severe deterioration.
The original form of the pointer was preserved in Eastern communities, the differences from one community to another being mainly in length and ornamentation. In certain communities, a hand with a pointing finger was added, and accordingly, the pointer came to be known as a yad, "hand," or eẓba, "finger." Pointers are made for the most part of silver or silver-plated brass, but in a few European communities, they used to be made of wood. In such cases, the pointers were carved in the local folk-art style.
An unusually-large and elaborately-finished Yad from France. The Yad probably dates from around the middle of the 19th century. This Yad has almost no surface that is not covered with some sort of decoration: scrolling vines and an inscription. measuring almost 13 inches long. All the fingers show signs of extensive wear, evidence of the long use of this Yad. Such large Yads of French origin are rare, but there is a parallel example in the collection of The Museum of the Bible in Oklahoma City.
Inscription: For the privilege of life and peace of the skilled scribe, the honorable teacher the Rabbi Reb Shmuel Anhori (Of blessed memory)