[Avodah] why finger

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 12:43:12PM -0700, Harvey Benton wrote:
: why do we hold up a finger (pinky amnong some congregations
: when the torah is lifted???
: and if we are left handed do we switch hands?? 

The "zos" of "vezos haTorah" implies pointing. Some hold that pointing
with an index finger is insulting, so, the pinky. OTOH, the Siddur Vilna
says (quoting a few meqoros including Seifer haChassidim) one should
bedavqa use the index finger, since that's the one called "etzba". As
in anthropomorphications about HQBH doing things with His "Etzba" --
including the writing of the luchos.

I'm lefty, and I do use my left hand, since that's how I point to things.
But not because I thought about it, just because that's what I naturally
do.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 37th day, which is
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