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
Deuteronomy (Devarim)
| Numbers 36:13 – Deuteronomy 1:22 (columns 179-180) |
|
Deuteronomy 21:4-22:27 (columns 203-204) |
| Deuteronomy 2:4-3:14 (columns 181-182) |
|
Deuteronomy 22:28-24:22 (columns 205-206) |
| Deuteronomy 3:14-4:24 (columns 183-184) |
|
Deuteronomy 24:22-27:15 (columns 207-208) |
| Deuteronomy 4:24-6:1 (columns 185-186) |
|
Deuteronomy 27:15-28:52 (columns 209-210) |
| * Deuteronomy 6:1-8:8 (columns 187-188) |
|
* Deuteronomy 28:52-30:3 (columns 211-212) |
| Deuteronomy 8:8-9:25 (columns 189-190) |
|
Deuteronomy 30:3-31:28 (columns 213-214) |
| Deuteronomy 9:25-11:15 (columns 191-192) |
|
* Deuteronomy 31:28-32:52 (columns 215-216) |
| Deuteronomy 11:15-12:23 (columns 193-194) |
|
Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 (columns 217-218) |
| Deuteronomy 12:23-14:26 (columns 195-196) |
|
The end of the scroll. |
| Deuteronomy 14:26-16:16 (columns 197-198) |
|
The Sephardic Torah scroll all rolled up. |
| Deuteronomy 16:16-18:22 (columns 199-200) |
|
The Sephardic Torah scroll all rolled up. |
| Deuteronomy 18:22-21:4 (columns 201-202) |
|
|
| * denotes pages of special interest | ||
Points of Interest:
| Deut. 6:4 | : | Large Letters (Otiyot Rabbati) in the Shema. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” In the Hebrew text, both the Ayin (ע) in the first word and the Dalet (ד) in the last word are written larger than their surrounding letters. Together, they spell the Hebrew word, “Eid” (עד), which means “witness.” Tradition teaches that every time someone recites the Shema, they act as a witness to God’s unity in the world. |
| Deut. 29:28 | : | Large Letters (Otiyot Rabbati). The phrase “and he cast them into another land” (va-yashlikhem) contains a large Lamed (ל). This could indicate that the Israelite’s exile would be long, severe, and far-reaching. However, some rabbis claim that this should be read as “to you” (lachem) which would imply that God will continue to be Israel’s God even after casting them out. Still, another rabbi has pointed out that in Egyptian hieroglyphics the Lamed is the symbol for an ox-goad. If (in this case) the letter reverts to its original meaning in Egyptian hieroglyphics, it would serve as a visual picture of God driving Israel out. For additional information, read “The Large Letters.” |
| Deut. 29:29 | : | Dotted Letters (Puncta Extraordinaria). The phrase “for us and for our sons unto” (lanu ulevaneynu ad) contains dots above every letter except for the last Dalet (ד). The significance and meaning of these 11 dots is greatly debated. Some rabbis simply believe that the dots indicate some doubt that the phrase was included as part of the original text. For a thorough review of the varying perspectives regarding this passage, refer to “Every Dot Is Rich in Meaning” by Rabbi Melanie Aron. |
| Deut. 32 | : | Known as one of the “Brickwork” chants, the Song of Moses is a poetic, 70-line “song” delivered by Moses to the Israelites at the end of his life. It is written in two stylized columns that remind the reader of the parting of the sea. |
| Deut. 32:2 | : | Forgotten Yod. A Yod (י) has been inserted above the text in the word “raindrops” (וְכִרְבִיבִ֖ים). |
| Deut. 32:6 | : | Large Letters (Otiyot Rabbati). A large Heh (ה) appears in front of the Hebrew word haladonai. This signifies that it should be treated as a separate word instead of simply the definite article prefix to “Lord” (לְיהֹוָה֙). |