The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, the so-called Pentateuch of Moses – it includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Torah is the most sacred object of worship. It is kept in the synagogue in the Aron Kodesh – a special, richly decorated cabinet. The Torah is a scroll of parchment, wound around two poles – the Torah scrolls. The scroll on display is 435 cm long. It displays text written in Hebrew, in ink, from right to left. The Torah dates from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, likely from Poland. During the reading of the Torah, touching it was forbidden; a decorative cue – a yad – was used. The Torah was treated with the utmost respect. During the most important Jewish holidays, it was dressed in an ornate garment, consisting of an embroidered velvet cover, and a Torah Crown was placed over the Torah scrolls. An example is presented in the next display case. The Torah Crown symbolizes God and the recognition of the wisdom, holiness, and authority of the Torah over the followers of Judaism. The Torah Crown on display was created in the late 19th century in Vienna. It is made of silver. Its shape consists of three superimposed crowns, decreasing in size towards the top. It is decorated with floral motifs. It is equipped with movable bells, and at its top is an eagle motif. The crown was excavated at the site of the synagogue in Dubiecko and donated to the Przemyśl museum in 1953.
