When reading the Torah it is forbidden to touch the parchment. Consequently, the reader uses a yad, which is attached to one of the staves of the Torah, in order to follow the scripture. Despite the fact that the Talmud does not permit the touching of the Torah parchment, the yad is believed to be of relatively recent origin since it is not mentioned in any literature prior to 1570.

This wooden and silver yad, or hand, is about 32 centimeters long and was made in the mid-1600s. This yad narrows from bottom to top. At the base of the yad (the widest area) there is a small round object, which is where the yad is held while the Torah is being read. At the centre of yad, three Hebrew letters, which translate into the Hebrew word "Almighty," appear. Along the wooden portion of the yad, a series of indented circles can be seen. The bottom third of the yad is composed of silver. Along this portion, a flower and leaf motif, symbolising the blossoming of the Torah, is apparent. At the end of the yad, a small clenched hand with the index finger extended outward is shown. This hand has both a practical purpose and symbolic meaning. In terms of its practical purpose, the hand and its extended finger help the reader follow the Torah. Symbolically, the hand, with its five finger, is often associated with the five books of the Torah.

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