One of the world's oldest Jewish manuscripts spent a day in Orange so a scientist could examine it while visiting his mother.

Researchers examined the copy of the Torah in the basement of Congregation Or Shalom. Scientist Gregory Heyworth, whose mother attends the synagogue, agreed to help examine the documents during a brief stay in town.

The copy of the Jewish holy scripture was likely crafted in 1270, officials said.

The researchers are looking to recover text that has been lost to the naked eye over the past seven centuries.

The pages may have been damaged by water, fire or scratching, Heyworth said. He took high resolution photographs for clues as to what's gone missing.

Researchers said they had to work slowly and carefully to document the fragile text. It could takes months of studying the photographs to make any headway.