Yad
2019515
200264657
2008-03-23T09:02:21Z
Itsabouttime
5803670
{{otheruses|Yad (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Torah and jad.jpg|thumb|240px|Torah with yad.]]
A '''yad''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: '''יד'''), literally, "hand," is a [[Jewish]] ritual pointer, used to point to the text during the [[Torah reading]] from the [[parchment]] [[Torah]] scrolls. It is intended to prevent anyone from touching the parchment, which is considered sacred; additionally, the fragile parchment can be damaged by the oils of the skin. While not required when chanting from the Torah, it is used frequently.
A ''yad'' can be made of any number of materials, though [[silver]] is most common. The yad is often shaped like a long rod, with a small hand and an index finger pointing from it.
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Jewish law and rituals]]
{{Judaism-stub}}
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