The 19th Century Sephardic Torah scroll on display in the Otto F. Linn library at Warner Pacific University contains the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures. Each column of the scroll has been photographed and indexed. We invite you to view or download the images below. To read an English translation alongside the Hebrew text, visit Chabad.org.

Genesis | Exodus | Leviticus | Numbers | Deuteronomy

 

Genesis (Bereishit)

* Genesis 1:1-29
(column 1)
 		           
 		 Genesis 28:6-30:3
(columns 28-29)
 
* Genesis 1:29-4:7
(columns 2-3)
 		  
 		 Genesis 30:4-31:31
(columns 30-31)
 
Genesis 4:8-6:12
(columns 4-5)
 		  
 		 Genesis 31:21-32:26
(columns 32-33)
 
Genesis 6:13-9:6
(columns 6-7)
 		  
 		 * Genesis 32:27-34:29
(columns 34-35)
 
Genesis 9:7-11:14
(columns 8-9)
 		  
 		 Genesis 34:30-36:30
(columns 36-37)
 
Genesis 11:14-14:4
(columns 10-11)
 		  
 		 * Genesis 36:30-38-12
(columns 38-39)
 
* Genesis 14:4-17:2
(columns 12-13)
 		  
 		 Genesis 38:12-40:8
(columns 40-41)
 
* Genesis 17:2-19:5
(columns 14-15)
 		  
 		 Genesis 40:8-41:37
(columns 42-43)
 
* Genesis 19:5-20:15
(columns 16-17)
 		  
 		 Genesis 41:37-43:2
(columns 44-45)
 
Genesis 20:15-22:14
(columns 18-19)
 		  
 		 Genesis 43:2-44:22
(columns 46-47)
 
* Genesis 22:14-24:24
(columns 20-21)
 		  
 		 Genesis 44:22-47:3
(columns 48-49)
 
Genesis 24:25-25:10
(columns 22-23)
 		  
 		 Genesis 47:3-49:7
(columns 50-51)
 
Genesis 25:11-26:31
(columns 24-25)
 		  
 		 Genesis 49:8 – Exodus 1:2
(columns 52-53)
 
Genesis 26:31-28:6
(columns 26-27)
 		  
 		  
 
* denotes pages of special interest

Points of Interest:

Gen. 1:1  :  Large Letters (Otiyot Rabati). The first letter of the Torah, Bet (ב), is enlarged. Commentators have suggested many explanations for this. For instance, the letter Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This may suggest that God created two worlds (the physical world and the spiritual world). The fact that Bet is enlarged reminds readers that the theme of the Torah (and therefore the focus of their attention) is God and His teachings. The article, “The Large Letters,” provides a practical explanation: When the Torah was 5 separate scrolls the large Bet told people which one was the beginning.
Gen. 2:4  :  Small Letters (Otiyot Ze’irot). The Hebrew letter Heh (ה) in the phrase “when they were created” is written smaller. Some scholars suggest this indicates that God was able to create the heavens and the earth effortlessly, without any strain or fatigue. The article, “Bereishit with a Capital Bet,” provides another interpretation–that the small Heh is an abbreviation for “the Lord” which makes creation a direct result of the Lord’s actions.
Gen. 16:5  :  Dotted Letters (Puncta Extraordinaria). The final Yod (י) in the phrase “HaShem judge between me and between you” contains a dot above it. Rabbi Natan wrote that the dot teaches Sarah said this to Abraham concerning Hagar, but that other rabbis teach that Sarah intended to cause contention between herself and Abraham (Perek 34:5). See “Connecting the Dots” for additional information.
Gen. 18:9  :  Dotted Letters (Puncta Extraordinaria). Dots are placed above the phrase “unto him” (eylav). Some believe this indicates that the angels who spoke to Abraham were simply following proper etiquette. However, Rabbi Natan taught that although they were angels and already knew Sarah’s location, they still sought after her (Perek 34:5). See “Connecting the Dots” for additional information.
Gen. 19:33  :  Dotted Letters (Puncta Extraordinaria). The letter Vav (ו) in the phrase “and at her rising” (uvequmah) has a dot above it. Some believe this indicates that Lot was unaware of his daughter when she laid down with him, but he became aware of her when she arose. However, Rabbi Natan taught that the dot actually means the exact opposite interpretation is true (Perek 34:5). See “Connecting the Dots” for additional information.
Gen. 23:2  :  Small Letters (Otiyot Ze’irot). The small letter Kaf (כ) in the phrase “and to weep for her” (v’livkotah) could represent that Abraham wept only a little for Sarah because she lived a full life and died at a very old age.
Gen. 33:4  :  Dotted Letters (Puncta Extraordinaria). In the phrase “and he kissed him” (vayishakehu), referring to Esau and Jacob, dots are placed over every letter. These dots act like a highlighter in an old book. However, Rabbinic sources disagree about their meaning. Some suggestions include: (1) they emphasize the reconciliation between the brothers, (2) they signify that Esau’s kiss was not sincere, or (3) the accuracy of these letters or words is doubted.
Gen. 37:12  :  Dotted Letters (Puncta Extraordinaria). The word “et” has dots placed above it. This word is not translated into English. Rabbi Natan claimed this dot teaches that Joseph’s brothers “did not go the shepherd the flock, but rather, to eat and to drink–and be frivolous” (Perek 34:5). See “Connecting the Dots” for additional information.