Obj. ID: 3989 Torah pointer, Morocco, circa 1900
sub-set tree:
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 eẓba, "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.
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.
A most graceful creation with very delicate engraving, this type of Yad was used in the Berber areas. The Yad ends at the pointing end in a full hand, or hamsa . The inscription, using the name of the donor and his mother's name, might indicate the dedication of this piece for his recovery from an illness as the prayers for this purpose usually use the name of the mother. There is a marked similarity to forms in the jewelry of Morocco as well.
Inscription: A purchase from my means to my satisfaction, by the honorable Rav Yichyeh son of Malcha, may the Merciful One protect her and bless her