Torah registration
Combining the ancient and modern
LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor
Like a fingerprint, each Torah is different, says Rabbi Zerach Green-field, who travels around the world examining Torahs under the auspices of Machon Ot, an authority on Torah scroll repair, restoration and preservation.
Distinguishing characteris-tics can include the type of parchment and ink used, the height of the letters, the number of letters in each line, the number of lines in each column, the font used and the style of writing. Unlike an identifying mark that can be erased, these characteristics cannot be changed by a thief, Greenfield says.
Combining the ancient and the modern, the rabbis use a scanner to scan a column from the Torah. The information is sent to a computer and a transparency is printed. Placing the transparency over the original text, the letters will line up exactly and can be used to identify and match a Torah with its owner.
A label is placed on the roller to discourage theft, with the text: "Warning!!! This Torah scroll has a secret identifying code that is known to the police authorities."
The information is entered into The International Registry, a worldwide com-puter database utilized by The Israel National Police, Interpol and The New York Police Department.
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