Torah Introductin Ceramony, Givatay'im Israel

Introduction of a new Torah ceremony, an important community event | (c) Ami Vider 2010

The Torah, first five book of the bible, also called the Five Books of Moses, is traditionally scribed in ink on a long roll or parchment. In ritual prayer, when reading the weekly portion of the bible, the scroll is used to read in a stylized sing-song, precise manner. Essentially, the Torah scroll in each synagogue is the direct connection of practicing the cyclical reading of the bible with a long tradition of keeping to the original writings. The writing of a scroll is a ritual by itself. Scribes, going back thousands of years, follow methods set by rabbis and adhered to religiously. The process of writing a Kosher (according to prescribed tradition) scroll is precise and require strict attention to detail. Through the years, going back at least a thousand years, Torah scrolls are written by hand yet are all exactly the same. Not a single letter is different making the Torah a true copy of one original book. This historical view of the Torah writing reflects the secular Israeli's general knowledge (mine). While secular Israelis possess Jewish cultural understanding, they do not practice the rituals from daily prayer to Torah readings on a regular basis. Yet, it is interesting to see our tradition vibrant today.

Psalms scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls collection (11Q5) | Israel Antiquities Authority | Public Domain

Besides the historical perspective, the Torah scroll, and it's introduction to the community, is something special. Reading from a Torah scroll during a traditional service is considered an honor. In traditional Jewish community reading from the Torah is reserved to people who are honored or have a special life cycle event (child birth, wedding, bar-mitzvah, memorial for a friend or relative) or want to say a special prayer. Not every Jew knows how to read properly from the Torah during prayer services. These who do not know, say the prayer before and after the reading. A designated reader will read the Torah portion. Introduction of a new Torah to a community is a rare event. Since Torah scrolls are well preserved and they are expensive to produce, communities buy then only on special occasions. In some congregations a Torah will be introduced once in a few decades. Donors to the congregation, sometimes not from the community itself, pride themselves in contributing a Torah scroll.