In a Jewish bar mitzvah Torah service, the pointer used to follow the Hebrew text is called a yad.
A yad, whose Hebrew name means “hand,” is a narrow ritual pointer traditionally ending in a small hand-shaped finial. It helps the reader keep a place on the Torah scroll without touching the parchment directly. Avoiding direct contact protects the delicate writing and preserves the scroll’s ritual condition.
The yad is especially visible during a bar mitzvah because the celebrant may read or chant a Torah passage before the congregation. The pointer does not replace the reader’s knowledge of the text; it simply tracks the line being read. A common mix-up is calling the pointer a Torah scroll or a scroll handle. The scroll itself is a sefer Torah, while the yad is an accessory used during reading.
Yads may be made from silver, wood, ivory, or other materials, and many are donated as synagogue gifts. Their designs vary, but the hand-shaped tip is the feature most closely associated with the object.