Art

Be dazzled by over 100 antique and contemporary Torah pointers, known by the Hebrew word yad for hand. The yad is used to keep one’s place in the Torah scroll, the central text of the Jewish faith, which is densely hand-written in Hebrew. Created by artists from different ages and cultures and made of diverse materials including wood, precious […]

Sunday, May 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join Cincinnati artist Judith Serling-Sturm for a hands-on workshop to create your own Torah pointer, or yad. Serling-Sturm, who works in her Pendelton Arts Center Studio, is a mixed-media artist and maker of artist books, handmade blank books, as well as sculpture and one-of-a-kind mezuzot made from natural […]

Thursday, June 6 from 12 to 1 p.m. Join Skirball curatorial consultant Abby Schwartz and collections manager and preparator Sheri Besso for an informal light lunch and conversation about the challenges of mounting this exhibition and the craftsmanship of these objects of material culture that are at once tools of devotion and exquisite works of art. The program […]

Thursday, July 16 from 12 to 1 p.m. Enjoy an illustrated lecture with Skirball curatorial consultant Abby Schwartz about the history of the Torah pointer in Jewish practice and the artistry of this tiny instrument across the world and over thousands of years. The program includes a visit to the exhibition. Reservations required.

Sunday, July 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. Final day to see The Guiding Hand: The Barr Foundation Collection of Torah Pointers.