Obj. ID: 37247 Torah pointer, Morocco, circa 1920
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.
This is one of the most attractive forms of Moroccan Torah pointers. Some of the features very much resemble jewelry forms of items surely made by the same Jewish silversmiths. This example still has the wool cord that was used to hang the pointer on one of the staves of the Torah scroll. The pointing end of the object is shaped like a hamsa.
Inscription: Dedicated to the Lord, this is the Sefer Torah for the (eternal) rest of Masouda bat Yosef Chamu, May her Soul rest in Eden