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Spiritually Inspired from page B18
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also having their bar mitzvahs and we were constantly searching for gifts
that didn't seem trivial — something unique that would also be consis-
tent with the spiritual meaning of the occasion.
"Children read a section from a Torah scroll on their bar mitzvah. We
thought, 'Wouldn't it be a nice idea to present them with the identical Torah
portion from an antique Torah scroll?"'
The Torah scroll is the most sacred of Jewish ritual objects. A scroll encom-
passes the Five Books of Moses and is inscribed by specially trained scribes.
Scrolls are not written on paper. They are handwritten in ornate Hebrew
calligraphy on the carefully prepared skin of a kosher animal such as a deer or
calf. It takes a scribe, a sofer, anywhere from six months to a year to complete
a Torah scroll.
A scroll must be in perfect condition to be considered kosher. As scrolls
age, factors such as heat and humidity may cause minor smudges, cracks in
the letters or wearing of the prchment. These scrolls can no longer be used
in services. As it is forbidden to throw away holy writings, religious tradi-
tion calls for them to either be buried or hidden away. Spiritual Artifacts has
acquired these Torah fragments from various sources around the world, many
in storage places such as attics.
The fragments are hundreds of years old and very fragile. They are ex-
tremely sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and humidity and would not
endure within a regular store-bought frame.
Spiritual Artifacts offers customers a choice between wooden mahogany
shadow-boxes and plexiglass museum cases. Both have ample room within for
air circulation in order to create a stable microclimate and avoid condensa-
tion. The parchment is mounted to a fabric backing using archival Japanese
hinges with a protective layer of museum ragboard between the two layers.
"We place a high priority on conservation in our framing techniques and
only use acid-free and museum-quality archival materials," says Gliksman.
"These are antique fragments that have survived for centuries. They need to
be treated with special reverence — not only because of their intrinsic holi-
ness but because they represent a valuable part of the history of these older
Jewish communities. The Torah scrolls were their most treasured possessions
and it's our responsibility to ensure that we preserve them for future genera-
tions."
An antique Torah fragment is a unique gift. Fragments can be viewed
at the company's Web site — www.spiritualArtifacts.net . Visitors can
browse fragments by their Torah portion, biblical theme or community
of origin.
"The pieces are meticulously categorized in a database so that people find a
fragment that has special meaning to them — that could mean searching for a
specific piece that matches a Torah portion being read at a bar mitzvah or one
that came from their ancestors' community.
"Who knows? It might even be a fragment that tells the biblical story that
their parents read to them as a child," says Gliksman.
Fragments can also be personalized with a special dedication plaque to
commemorate any occasion.
Jonathan Adler
Skyline Menorah
203 East Maple • Birmingham •
248.647.4007 •
iz-zz.-tv.artIoftonline.com
Mon - Fri. 10-8 • Sot, 10-7 • Sun: 12-5
B20
Decenber 1t • 2008
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Spiritual Artifacts is based in Los Angeles. Its Web site is
www.spritualArtificts.net.