MJ Only When is it easiest to lift up a Torah scroll?

We just celebrated Simchat Torah this week and the rolling back of the Torah. As I watched the reading from the Torah at tonight's service I had a thought and wanted to ask you all.

When is it easiest to lift up a Torah Scroll?

ContraMundum said:

After a workout?

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Good one but not what I had in mind, put on your thinking cap, visualize the service, look closely......

pinacled said:

Together

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Yes that would be a help. It is better for two than one in most cases.

I guess I should have specified but it is commonly known that only one person lifts up the scroll before the people.

I am enjoying these answers, it shows how many different ways you can approach a situation like this.

Keep them coming folks!

pat34lee said:

When it is rolled up and put in a case.

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True, except that it's not lifted up when dressed, carried, yes, lifted up, no. But excellent answer over all!

Here's a picture of lifting up the Torah

"This is the Torah that Moses placed before the Israelites—the mouth of Adonai at the hand of Moses."





V'zot haTorah asher sar Moshe lifnei b'nei Yisrael al pi Adonai b'yad Moshe

pinacled said:

Interesting motif on the wall. What is that about?

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It is a banner hanging in the synagogue. Looks to me like an artistic view of Mt Sinai when it was on fire when the L-RD gave the Torah.

Paul of Eugene OR said:

Maybe when the scroll is being read in the middle part. That way, we have reduced the maximum weight that can go to one of the arms.

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Ding Ding Ding!!!!!!!
Give that man a big round of applause!!!!!

Yes, that is what I was looking for. As I mentioned in the OP this came to me after watching the scroll being rolled back and seeing it all on the one tree. I think it would be easier to tear or G-d forbid, drop when it is like that.

Torah scrolls tend to weight between 25-30 pounds and are quite large and bulky. To lift that up by the spindles and over the head is not a easy thing to do and scientifically I thought it must be easiest when we reach mid way in the book of Leviticus.

Now the exact place that is the middle is disputed, some believe it is Lev. 13:33, while according to the counting accepted today which is based upon the Masorah, the middle verse is Lev. 8:7.

Lulav said:

Ding Ding Ding!!!!!!!
Give that man a big round of applause!!!!!

Yes, that is what I was looking for. As I mentioned in the OP this came to me after watching the scroll being rolled back and seeing it all on the one tree. I think it would be easier to tear or G-d forbid, drop when it is like that.

Torah scrolls tend to weight between 25-30 pounds and are quite large and bulky. To lift that up by the spindles and over the head is not a easy thing to do and scientifically I thought it must be easiest when we reach mid way in the book of Leviticus.

Now the exact place that is the middle is disputed, some believe it is Lev. 13:33, while according to the counting accepted today which is based upon the Masorah, the middle verse is Lev. 8:7.

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Q So when is the Torah easiest to lift?
A When it is balanced ( in more ways than one!)

ContraMundum said:

I really don't know. The idea of veneration itself is enough for me to ponder. I guess in my paradigm it should be decided by the community doing the liturgy- and there could be no perfect one way answer.

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It is 'venerated' because it is the most holy thing we have on this earth, what was given directly from G-d to Moses to the people that has kept us together for over 3,500 years.

ChavaK said:

That reminds me of a friend of mine that had the widest wingspan ever. We used to call him Ten Column Len (his name
was Leonard).

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Wow, that's wide! He must have been quite tall as well, was he chosen a lot for hagbah?

ContraMundum said:

I agree...but why does it need veneration? More of a philosophical question, really. I rather like the idea that holiness can be venerated. It just seems that one man's veneration is another man's idolatry. Do we venerate the Bibles we have at our homes in this manner? Just pondering aloud.

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Many don't, my idea is because the printed word is cheap, it is no longer special, held in reverence like it used to be years ago. Many people died to have a copy when printing presses came to be. I guess it's because of all that goes into making a Torah scroll whereas things like that today are not made.
I myself am a bible rescuer if that makes sense. When I see someone wanting to get rid of a bible, and why? but anyway I've seen it and I always buy them or if I happen across one that someone put in the trash after a yard sale I salvage it from there. I've given many away to those who want them but I still have dozens and dozens of them in all versions, conditions and ages. I think the oldest one I have it close to 100 years old. Some have been written in with thoughts, prayers, notes that really show how that person that previously owned it was attached to it.

ChavaK said:

.......

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???