A yad (Hebrew: יד, romanized: yad; Yiddish: האַנט, romanized: hant, lit. 'hand') is a Jewish ritual pointer, or stylus, popularly known as a Torah pointer, used by the reader to follow the text during the Torah reading from the parchment Torah scrolls.

Welcome to Eichler's huge collection of beautiful Torah Pointers. Known as Yads in Hebrew, Torah pointers are the instruments used to read and follow the text of the Torah so that it remains untouched by the human hand.

A yad, used to point during the reading of the Torah. The yad ("hand") is the pointer that the reader of the Torah uses to help others follow the written words as he reads. Usually made of silver, the end of this rod is commonly shaped like a hand with its index finger extended.

YAD (Heb. יָד). The word yad , in addition to its primary meaning of "hand," has three secondary meanings in Hebrew. (1) The pointer used by the reader to indicate the place during the reading of the Torah (see *Torah Ornaments ).

Yad, in Judaism, a ritual object, usually made of silver but sometimes of wood or other materials, that consists of a shaft affixed to a miniature representation of a hand with its index finger pointing. The yad is used optionally in liturgical services to indicate the place that is …

Nov 18, 2023 · A Torah Pointer, or Yad (literally “hand” in Hebrew), is a ceremonial tool used in Jewish religious practices. It’s a slender rod, often beautifully crafted, used to guide the reading of the Torah, Judaism’s holiest text.

What Does the Hebrew Word “Yad” Mean? The word yad (Heb. יד) means “hand.” It can also refer to the pointer used during the public reading of the Torah scroll. The traditional shape of the pointer is a long arm topped with a closed fist and the index finger pointing. The pointer helps the person reading the Torah follow the words inside the scroll.

The Torah Pointer, or “YAD”, which is the Hebrew word for “hand” has a very important role. The Torah Pointer guides the reader of the text, while reading directly from the Sefer Torah in public, making sure they follow the intricate verse line by line, after taking the …

Mar 17, 2025 · Known as a yad in Hebrew, the Torah pointer is commonly used in place of an index finger on the page, as it’s considered respectful to avoid direct contact with the scroll. It’s usually silver or another precious metal. At the University of Virginia’s Fralin Museum of Art, ...

For thousands of years, Jews used simple tapered wooden sticks to point the way through the densely written text of the Torah without touching the fragile parchment. But over the millennia, the yad — pointer — has developed into a unique art form.