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KADOSH³ emblem — Torah case and sacred wordsKADOSH3קָדוֹשׁ³

Aron Kodesh — Dimensions, Materials and Planning

How to plan an ark that fits the scrolls you have and the ones you will add: internal height, depth, ventilation, parochet, access and locking.

An ark is planned around the scrolls, not around the wall. The common mistake is to plan by the height of the scroll alone and discover at the end that the crown does not fit.

The dimensions that decide

1. Internal height — measured with the case and the crown on the scroll, plus clearance for comfortable removal.

2. Internal depth — derived from the rolled diameter of the scroll, plus clearance.

3. Width — by the number of scrolls standing side by side, including room for scrolls added later.

4. Shelf height — not too low and not too high, so that lifting the scroll out is safe.

Keeping conditions

Wood, stone and metal behave differently in humidity. An ark needs ventilation, and direct sun, air conditioning blowing straight in and damp from an external wall should be avoided. Stable conditions extend the life of the case, the mantle and the scroll.

Parochet and opening

Decide in advance whether the ark opens with doors, sliding panels or a shutter, because it affects the clearance needed around it and how the parochet is hung. The parochet is measured after the frame is defined.

Access and safety

A step or platform in front of the ark must be safe, and internal lighting is better low in intensity and free of heat. Locking is needed where the ark stands in a space open to the public.

Coordinating with the case

Because the case is measured to the scroll and the ark to the case, the correct order is: scroll, then case, then ark. Every KADOSH case page lists full internal and external dimensions, so the ark can be planned on data rather than estimates.

Arks for rigid cases and Haftarah cases

In communities that use a rigid case (Sephardi, Yemenite and others), the ark is planned around the case height with the crown and its external diameter, not the scroll alone. Our carbon cases are currently produced at 45–60 cm. If the community also keeps a Haftarah case — about 45%–50% of the Torah case height — plan a separate shelf or compartment for it from the start.

Recommended temperature and humidity

Per the care conditions we publish for our cases: 15–30°C and 35%–60% relative humidity, no direct sun, away from fire or heat sources, and no contact with liquids or solvents. Clean the exterior with a dry microfiber cloth only.

Checklist before ordering

  1. How many scrolls are there today, and how many may be added?
  2. What is the height and external diameter of the largest — with case and crown?
  3. Are there Haftarah cases that need space?
  4. How does the ark open, and how much free space surrounds it?
  5. Is the wall external or damp, and does air conditioning blow toward it?
  6. Who holds the key, and is the platform safe to climb?

Next step

Planning a new ark or replacing cases for existing scrolls? Send us the scroll measurements and we will fit a Torah case and Haftarah case that go into the ark without surprises: quick quote (/en/quick-quote), phone and WhatsApp +972-50-755-5200.

Note: educational content, not a halachic ruling; synagogue custom is decided with the community rabbi.

This article is written for study and orientation only, based on the cited sources, and is not a halachic ruling. For a practical question, consult a rabbi.