Yeshiva New Haven Shul

Yeshiva of New Haven Shul - Preparing  the Hide for the Torah Scroll

The Yeshiva of New Haven Shul was founded by Rabbi Daniel Greer and has evolved into a community center for the Jewish community in the area. The Yeshiva has three Torah scrolls and uses the third one, donated by Mrs. Ella Willner in honor of her parents who were murdered along with millions of Jews during the Second World War. The Yeshiva of New Haven Shul treasures its three scrolls and explains how the Torah scrolls are written.

The Tools
The writing of the Torah scroll requires parchment, ink, quill, ruler, stylus, and tikkun (guide) – a book with the Torah text. The Torah is written on parchment that is specially made from specific sections of the hide of a kosher animal. The hide has three different layers, but only the inner layer (flesh side) and the outside layer (hairy layer) of the hide may be used.

Cleaning the Hide
The hide has to be carefully cleaned and softened before it can be used to write upon. During Talmudic times, barley flour and salt were sprinkled on the skins, which were then soaked in gallnut juice. However, the cleaning and softening process has changed over the years, and today the hide is soaked in clear water for two days, and then soaking the hide in limewater for nine days after which the hair is removed. After the hair is removed, the skins are rinsed, dried, and creases ironed out. During the process of soaking the skins, the processor has to make a verbal declaration that his actions are being performed for the holiness of the Sefer Torah. The Yeshiva New Haven Shul is fortunate to have three Torah scrolls in its synagogue.