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Sefer Torah (ספר תורה in Hebrew:
"Book [of] Torah" or "Torah
Scroll") (plural: Sifrei Torah) is
a specially hand-written copy of
the Torah or Pentateuch, which is
the holiest book within Judaism
and venerated by Jews. It must
meet extremely strict standards of
production. In its completed state
it is stored in the holiest spot
within a synagogue called the Aron
Kodesh ("Holy Ark", usually called
"the Ark", a reference to the Ark
of the Covenant), usually an
ornate curtained-off cabinet or
section of the synagogue, which is
usually built along the wall that
most closely faces Jerusalem, the
direction faced by Jews when
engaged in prayer.
The text of the Torah is also
commonly printed (for non-ritual
functions) as a (non-scroll) book,
known as a Humash ("five", for the
five books of Moses), often
accompanied by commentaries or
translations. |
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