Dear Editor,
I read with interest your recent article, “University Investigates Alleged Mishandling of University Torah.” As the only professor to teach a course solely devoted to Jewish studies on campus, I have been aware of the existence of this precious object for some time. I am further invested in the well being of this item as a Jewish member of our community.
As both a matter of academic and personal interest, I met with library staff years ago and asked questions and made suggestions to ensure that the scroll was held and displayed according to the rigorous standards set by academic librarians who specialize in Judaica and Torah scrolls, in particular. I was satisfied that it was.
Several weeks ago, I received a call from the Title IX coordinator about the alleged mishandling of the document. According to the coordinator’s description of the class in question, there was no violation of standards set by archivists trained in the handling of these scrolls. The scroll is stored in an archival box. Students in the class were prohibited from touching any part of the scroll. The professor and archivist on duty only intentionally touched the wooden handles with their hands and used a yad–a ritual pointer–to gesture to features of the text and parchment, thus avoiding any contact between their bodies and the parchment. Recently, I confirmed that this is in line with accepted archival practice by speaking with Dr. Yoram Bitton, Head of the Hebraic Section at the Library of Congress.
It can be jarring for a person who is used to seeing the Torah in its ritual context to see it in this academic one. However, it is exactly the job of academic archivists to make such valuable parts of human heritage widely available for teaching and learning, while also ensuring that they are held with the respect accorded to them by their communities of origin. I am glad that members of at least one class are getting the opportunity to experience this wonderful and powerful object in the proper, controlled environment.
Sincerely,
Samuel Kigar, Associate Professor of Religion
With full support from the following scholars of religious studies:
Dr. Greta Austin
Dr. Tanya Erzen
Dr. Suzanne Holland
Dr. Hajung Lee
Dr. Jonathan Stockdale
Dr. Heather White