Torah pointers

This Torah pointer was used at the synagogue of the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society. The Torah scrolls are not touched because oils from hands would damage the parchment and rub off the ink. The reader uses a pointer (called a yad meaning ''hand'' in Hebrew) to follow his place in the scroll. Below the pointer hand there are Hebrew letters and the lowest part is filigreed silver. The 11 Yiddish letters spell out "Sanitorium".