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The Torah Project is an artistic edition of the Hebrew Bible which has both aesthetic and religious values. The project began in 2013 by the international book publisher - ACC Arte Scritta, and was completed in Italy in 2017. They published this book to inspire communities all over the world to participate in interfaith dialogue.

History
At the end of 2013, Ricardo De La Fuente and Maria Cecilia Braschi, the founders of ACC Arte Scritta, came up with the idea, at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, to create an illustrated edition of the Torah called 'The Torah Project', which would contain creative, and inspirational artworks of Jewish culture.

The Torah Project Book
This book contains all of the Five Books of Moses. Each of the 5 books is based on the main events in the history of the Jewish people:- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. All the Hebrew texts have not been changed from the original scriptures.

It contains commentaries from renowned personalities in art and biblical studies, which have all been translated into four languages — English, Spanish, Italian and German (1). Each copy of The Torah Project includes a handwritten blessing by the Pope Francis, which says: “I want to bless all those who have worked in the production of this Torah, which is the word of God, that must unite us in love forever.”

The cover of the Torah Project book represents the city of Jerusalem, and it is made out of wood and pearl. In between the chapters of the Hebrew Bible, there are 27 lithograph paintings created by Baruj Salinas, a Jewish Cuban-born artist.

Presentations
There are only 126 editions of The Torah Project book which are made, and that will be presented to museums and universities around the world to increase its recognition and its relevance to interfaith dialogue. Other copies will be sold to private collectors.

The Vatican
On Thursday 23rd February 2017, Pope Francis was presented with the first copy of The Torah Project book at a special assembly at the Vatican. The Holy Father also welcomed his longtime friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka, from Buenos Aires Argentina, ACC Arte Scritta, and renowned scholars in biblical studies and art. For example, one of the special guests was Adolfo D. Roitman, the curator of the Shrine of the Book, which holds the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. In addition the craftsmen and artisans who created this book of the Torah with their families, were also present at the presentation.

Rabbi Skorka pointed out in his speech to the Pope and the papal audience that “This is intended as a small, yet very significant cry to eradicate the hatred and animosities that are so tragically perceived today”. Pope Francis expressed his immense appreciation for the Torah as a “thoughtful gesture” and that it is “the Lord’s gift, his revelation, his word”. He indicated that the editor’s note inside the Hebrew Bible indicates the “dialogical approach” that the relations between Catholics and Jews is “a cultural vision of openness, mutual respect and peace that accords with the spiritual message of the Torah.” He also recognised the efforts and expertise of the craftsmen and artisan, and acknowledged how they added more value to the Hebrew Bible with colorful illustrations.

Pope Francis received the first copy of the Hebrew Bible and it will be added to the Vatican Secret Archives. The book was presented to the Pope by a group of Jewish and Christian children.