A Sefer Torah (Torah scroll) is a handwritten copy of the Torah. It includes the Five Books of Moses.
The Torah scroll is mainly read during Torah services. It may also be paraded through the synagogue during a Torah service. During the inauguration of a new Torah, it may be paraded through the streets to the synagogue.
During Simchat Torah, people take turns dancing with the Torah. At other times, it is stored in the Ark.
Torah scrolls may only be written by people with special training (called sofer or scribes). They are written on parchment made from a kosher animal with special ink and a quill. The finished scroll is usually attached to wooden rollers. It may also be covered with ornaments, which vary across different communities.
There is some variety in writing styles of Torah in different communities, times, and places. It is a mitzvah to write a Torah. However, because of the training needed, people may also fulfil this mitzvah by sponsoring a Torah or part of a Torah.
It is not allowed to throw away a Torah scroll. If a scroll becomes too worn to use, it should be buried with like items.
Text adapted from English Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0.
