Objects

A segment of the Torah scroll containing text arranged in five columns. These are the verses of Genesis 34:2 to 37:34. The vertical edges are finished with overlaps with traces of sewing with adjacent segments. The preceding text on the right can be found in item MWL/2949/5.

The item was purchased for the collection of the Lublin Open Air Village Museum from a resident of Lublin in 1973.

The Torah (from Hebrew: "instruction", "guidance", "law") is the fundamental book of Judaism written in Hebrew. It consists of five books (in the Christian tradition, these are the first books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) and is sometimes referred to as the Pentateuch, Five Books of Moses. A Torah scroll for synagogue use is inscribed by hand on sewn sheets of parchment made from the skin of a kosher animal. It takes the form of a scroll rolled up on two rods and is kept in the aron ha-kodesh, also called the holy ark. The Torah forms the basis of Judaism – both in terms of its content, from which religious law is directly derived, and in terms of its physical nature. Therefore, the Torah scrolls are treated with great reverence and are accompanied by special rituals. If their condition no longer permits their use (e.g. due to damage), they are not destroyed, but solemnly buried in the ground.