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Obj. ID: 3990  Torah pointer, Iraq, circa 1925

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev,

6 image(s)

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Name/Title
Torah pointer | Unknown
Object
Object Detail
Date
circa 1925
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Iraq
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Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Period Detail
Gross Family Collection No.
052.001.010
Material/Technique
Silver, Cast, Chased
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Length: 34 cm, Width: 0.7 cm Weight: 68 g
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Hallmark
Iconographical Subject
Unknown |
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Description

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.

The Torah pointers of Iraq are typically such long, thin pointers with no hand at the end. This example also has a diamond shaped decorative design on one side with a dedicatory inscription on the other. The loop on the uuper part was for hanging from a Torah Tik closing mechanism.

Inscription: For the soul, may the Lord have mercy on him, of David Yosef Suleiman Yosef, may his soul rest in Eden, on the day of the holy Sabbath, the 25 of Shevat, may his soul be bound up in the bond of life

Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography
Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
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Researcher
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Architectural Drawings
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Computer Reconsdivuction
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Section Head
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Language Editor
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Donor
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