Torah Pointer (Yad)

Cast and filigree silver, 11 ½ in.
19th century, Russia
B’nai B’rith Klutznick Collection, gift of Joseph B. and Olyn Horwitz
2015.17.466

Yad means ‘hand’ in Hebrew, indicating the pointing hand on top of the piece. This hand is used to locate the place in the Torah scroll where the baal koreh, or reader, begins. The yad then helps the reader follow along as they go and at the same time protects the scroll from being touched by human hands.

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