What is the stick used to read the Torah?

yad
A yad was used during the public reading of the Torah, since the Jewish tradition prohibited touching the scroll containing the holy scriptures with a bare finger. The name derives from the Hebrew word “yad” which means “a hand”.

Is the Torah written on parchment?

The letters are written on specially prepared parchment known as klaf, made from the skin of a kosher animal – goat, cattle, or deer. Image caption, A sofer must know more than 4,000 Judaic laws before he begins writing a Torah Scroll.

What is written on the parchment in a mezuzah?

The mezuzah opens up and inside is the Shema prayer, written on a small piece of parchment. The Shema is the most important prayer in Judaism because it reminds Jewish people that there is only one God.

Why is the yad used?

The yad is used optionally in liturgical services to indicate the place that is being read on a Torah (biblical) scroll, thus eliminating the necessity of touching the sacred manuscript with the hand. Many yadayim are prized as works of art.

What happens if you drop the Torah?

Lots of fasting. “If you drop the Torah, the implications are dire—the shame is enormous—and traditionally one needed to fast for 40 days,” says Jonathan Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass.

How much does a Torah COST?

USD$30,000 to $100,000
The cost of writing a Torah scroll is estimated at USD$30,000 to $100,000. The finished Torah scroll is used during prayer services in a synagogue or other sanctuary, such as that of a yeshiva, rabbinical college, university campus, nursing home, military base, or other institution.

Why is a mezuzah hung at an angle?

This is done to accommodate the variant opinions of Rashi (1040–1105) and of his grandson, Rabbeinu Tam, as to whether it should be placed vertically (Rashi) or horizontally (Rabbeinu Tam), and also to imply that God and the Torah (which the mezuzah symbolizes) are entering the room.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZUFxabb0Uo