Yad (Torah pointer)
Mayim (Torah pointer); sterling silver, 18k gold, aquamarine; 10 1/4" x 2 1/4" x 1 1/8", photographed by Doug Yaple, 2012; commissioned for the Barr Foundation Judaica Collection
In Honor of the Matriarchs (Torah pointer); sterling silver, antique mother-of-pearl buttons, embroidery needles; 10" x 1 1/4" x 1 1/4", photographed by Doug Yaple, 2012; commissioned for the Barr Foundation Judaica Collection
Rosh Hashanah (Torah pointer); sterling silver, 18k gold, citrine, honeycomb, bee, glass; 8 1/2" x 5/8" x 5/8", photographed by Doug Yaple, 2010
Octogenarian (Torah pointer); sterling silver , magnify glass, 7 7/8" x 15/16" x 5/8", photographed by Jim Wildeman, 2002; permanent collection The Jewish Museum in NY
Compass (Torah pointer); sterling silver, compass, acrylic 8 1/2" x 5/8" x 5/8", photographed by Jim Wildeman, 2001; permanent collection The Jewish Museum in NY
Aviv's Yad (Torah pointer); sterling silver, boxwood, 2019
Extendable (Torah pointer); sterling silver, amethyst, extendable pointer; 5-20" x 1/2" x 1/2", Photographed by Doug Yaple, 2013
Wheel/Perambulator (Torah pointer); sterling silver, 18k gold, sand, glass; 8 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 3/4", photographed by Doug Yaple, 2009
Borders (Torah pointer); 1950's map from Jewish Israel Zahal IDF Geographical Historical Atlas, gold paint; 8 1/2 " x 1" x 1", photographed by Doug Yaple, 2013
Amber Torah Pointer; sterling silver, Baltic amber, 8 1/4" x 1 3/4" x 1", 2022; commissioned for private collection
Amber Torah Pointer; sterling silver, Baltic amber, 8 1/4" x 1 3/4" x 1", 2022; commissioned for private collection
Tree of Life (Torah pointer); sterling silver, peridot, jade; 8 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 1 1/2", photographed by Doug Yaple, 2012
Tree of Life (hand forged Torah pointer); sterling silver; 7 3/4" x 1 1/4" x 1 1/4", photographed by Jim Wildeman, 2001
Key to the Tree of Life (Torah pointer), Key to the Tree of Knowledge (Torah pointer); sterling silver, peridot, iolite, 6" x 1" x 1"; 6 3/4" x 1 1/8" x 1 5/8", photographed by Jim Wildeman, 2001
The Torah (old testament scroll) is hand-written in beautiful calligraphy Hebrew by a Sofer (a Kosher scribe) with quill and ink on specially prepared sheep skin. Since it is forbidden to touch the Torah with your finger, a long pointer is used in place of your finger to follow the text when reading. The Torah pointer is called a yad, which translated from Hebrew means hand. Traditionally, Torah pointers have small silver hands on the end of them. I enjoy creating Torah pointers because this format of Judaica is relatively under-explored. Torah pointers, through their form and/or decoration, have the potential to reference any portion of the Torah, to comment on any aspect of this rich text and the rituals involved in reading the text.