Picture of Reading The Torah Scroll

-- The Torah for reading in public must be written on the skin (parchment) of a clean animal, beast or fowl (comp. Lev. xi. 2 et seq.) per details laid down in the Talmud, the prepared hide is known as gevil. Scrolls that are not prepared according to this method are invalid for use. (Maimonides, Hilkhoth Tefillin 1:14).