The word Torah means "law" in Hebrew. The Torah is the law on which Judaism is founded. This law is written in the the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
The word Torah can also mean:
Torah Scrolls
The Torah scrolls, which contain the words of God, are always beautifully "dressed" because they are the most precious item in the synagogue. The silver ornaments on the top of the rollers jingle as the scrolls are taken out and remind the congregation to listen to the words of God.
The scriptures used in services are written on parchment scrolls. They are always hand-written, in attractive Hebrew calligraphy with "crowns" (crows-foot-like marks coming up from the upper points) on many of the letters.
You are not supposed to touch the parchment on these scrolls; some say because they are too holy; some say because the parchment, made from animal skins, is a source of ritual defilement; others say because your fingers' sweat has acids that will damage the parchment over time. Instead, you follow the text with a pointer, called a Yad. "Yad" means "hand" in Hebrew, and the pointer usually is in the shape of a hand with a pointing index finger. The scrolls are kept covered with fabric, and often decorated with silver crowns on the handles of the scrolls and a silver breastplate on the front.
The scrolls are kept in a cabinet in the synagogue called an "ark," as in Ark of the Covenant, not as in Noah's Ark.
The Torah scrolls that are read in a synagogue are unpointed text, with no vowels or musical notes, so the ability to read a passage from a scroll is a valuable skill, and usually requires a lot of practice (reviewing the passage in a text with points).
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Source:http://www.jewfaq.org/to rah.htm
http://www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/synagogue/torah.htm
Virtual Synagogue • Sacred Objects
Wellesley Middle School
February 2006