Sefer Torah

Sefer Torah (Hebrew: ספר תורה, plural ספרי תורה, Sifrei Torah; "Book(s) of Torah" or "Torah Scroll(s)" ) is a specially hand-written copy of the Torah or Pentateuch, which is the holiest book within Judaism (originally called Torath Moshe) and venerated by Jews. It must meet extremely strict standards of production. In its completed state it is stored in the holiest spot within a synagogue called the Aron Kodesh ("Holy Ark", usually called "the Ark", a reference to the Ark of the Covenant), usually an ornate curtained-off cabinet or section of the synagogue, which is usually built along the wall that most closely faces Jerusalem, the direction faced by Jews when engaged in prayer.

The text of the Torah is also commonly printed (for non-ritual functions) as a (non-scroll) book, known as a Humash ("five", for the five books of Moses), often accompanied by commentaries or translations.

Production and use

According to Jewish law, a sefer Torah (plural: Sifrei Torah) is a copy of the formal Hebrew text of the Five Books of Moses hand-written on gevil or qlaf (forms of parchment) (see below) by using a quill (or other writing utensil) dipped in ink. Producing a sefer Torah fulfills one of the 613 mitzvot (Judaism's commandments). Both parchments must be prepared as described below.

Written entirely in Hebrew, a sefer Torah contains 304,805 letters, all of which must be duplicated precisely by a trained sofer ("scribe"), an effort which may take as long as approximately one and a half years. Any error during inscription renders the sefer Torah pasul ("invalid"). According to the Talmud (the oral law of the Jewish People), all scrolls must also be written on gevil parchment that is treated with salt, flour and m'afatsim (a residual of wasp enzyme and tree bark) in order to be valid. Scrolls not processed in this way are considered invalid (Hilkoth Tefillin 1:8 & 1:14, Maimonides). In addition, the Talmud (in tractate Bava Batra 14b & Gitten 54b) states that Moses used gevil for the Torah scroll he placed into the Holy Ark.

Modern Sifrei Torah are written with 42 lines of text per column. Very strict rules about the position and appearance of the Hebrew letters are observed. Any of several Hebrew scripts may be used, but usually complex and elegant calligraphy is employed. The Hebrew text of the Tanakh, and the Torah in particular, is considered holy, down to the last letter: translations or transcriptions are frowned upon for formal service use, and transcribing is done with painstaking care. A single letter, ornamentation or symbol of the over 300,000 stylized letters which make up the Hebrew Torah text in error renders a Torah scroll unfit for use, hence a torah scribe is a specialist skill and takes considerable time to write and check.

Types of material permitted to use for a Sefer Torah

Klaf (also Qlaf or K'laf), whose closest English translation is parchment, is the Hebrew word for a certain layer of gevil used for the production of a mezuzah and/or a Sefer Torah ("Torah scroll"). Although klaf has a specific definition in Hebrew, the term parchment is a less accurate translation for a Hebrew word which has no exact, one-word English equivalent.

Preparation of the writing material

The writing material can be made of the specially prepared skin of a kosher animal - goat, cattle, or deer. The hide consist of three levels, a) g’vil b) k’laf and c) doksostus, but only the flesh side of the inner layer (a) and the outer side of the hairy layer (b) can be used for holy writings, (c) is not permitted. The top side of the full unsplit hide appears to be the optimal material required by the Talmud, and is referred to as g'vil (gevil).

The method of cleaning and preparing the full, unsplit hide has changed over the centuries. During Talmudic times, salt-water and barley were sprinkled on the skins which were then soaked in the juice of afatsim (gall nuts). Nowadays, most processors dip the skins in clear water for two days after which it is soaked in limewater for nine days to remove the hair. When it is a hairless surface, the sofer ("scribe") stretches it on a wooden drying frame and scrapes it until it is dry and creases ironed out with presses. Then it is sanded until it becomes a flat, smooth sheet fit for writing. The reasons for the change in this process are lengthy and controversial.

Some parchment (usually poor quality) is smeared with a chalky substance (log) to make it whiter (though occasionally this is only done on the reverse). However some scribes object to this as it forms a barrier between the ink and the parchment.

Because of modern processes, most parchment is now prepared to the ruling of k’laf and used in that manner, i.e. written on the flesh side and not on the hair side. However, there are still groups who continue to adhere to the ancient prescription described in the Talmud, and continue to write on the hairy side of the full hide.

Prepared "For the sake of Heaven"

The parchment must be prepared "for the sake of heaven" (i.e. with the intent of performing a Divine act) and the processor must make a declaration as to what he is preparing it for as one cannot use k'laf destined for a lesser holiness (kedusha kallah) - e.g. a mezuzah to write tefillin or a Sefer Torah, which are weightier holiness (kedusha chamurah). If he has to, the scribe should state that he is preparing for the sake of a Sefer Torah but that may change his if he wishes. If there is no Jew able to prepare the parchment, then in exceptional circumstances, a non-Jew may prepare it. However, a Jew must stand over him, directing him in his work and stating that the preparation is for the sake of heaven.

After preparation the scribe must mark out the parchment using the sargel ("ruler") ensuring the guidelines are straight. Only the top guide is done and the letters suspended from it.

It is a Mitzvah for every Jew to either write or have written for him a Sefer Torah.

History

According to the oldest and most authoritative Jewish texts (Mishna Sofrim 200-500, the Gaonic work Halakhoth Gadoloth 743 and the Mishnah Torah of Maimonides), Qlaf is the bottom portion (closest to the flesh) of the split animal hide (gevil). Sofrim ("scribes") originally wrote on the bottom of this portion for tefillin ("phylacteries"). Torah scrolls were also written on this material as a last choice. Gevil (written on the top (hairy) side of the full hide, was the required material as a first choice.

Gevil

Gevil (often pronounced "gewil") is animal hide that has been prepared (as writing material) for use in such works as a Sefer Torah or Mezuzah. Gevil is an ancient Hebrew word. According to Torath Moshe (the faith espoused by Moses), the ancient Hebrews prepared (and modern Jews still prepare) hides with the required salt, flour and m'afasim (wasp residue). This entire process was carried out in precise compliance with the Talmud, Geonim and the Rishonim. Fragments found in and around the caves of Qumron near the Dead Sea in Israel confirm the use of brownish gevil from the time of 200 BCE. Maimonides wrote that it is the law transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai that a Torah scroll be written on gevil, and that scrolls that are not prepared according to this method are invalid for use. (Maimonides, Hilkoth Tefillin 1:14).

According to the Talmud (Tractate Bava Batra 14b & Gitten 54b), gevil existed during the time of Moses (approximately 1280 BCE); Moses is described as using gevil for the Torah scroll he placed into the Holy Ark of the Covenant. Elsewhere in the Talmud (Tractate Gittin 54b), there is testimony that Torah scrolls were written on gevil. Today, a handful of Jewish scribes continue to make scroll material in this way.

Fragments found in and around the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea (200BCE), Halakoth Geduloth: (a Geonic work from 743ce), Talmud Sofrim: (Qatan), Babylonian Talmud: (200ce: Bava Batra 14b and Gitten 54b), Maimonides/Rambam: (1100-1200 ce: Hilkoth Tefilin / Laws of Tefillin) Chapter 1.

External decorations

A completed Sefer Torah will often be "dressed" externally with ornamental breastplates, scrolls, protective fine fabric, and occasionally, a crown, the metalwork often made of beaten silver. This is not to worship it, but to mark it as sacred and holy, as the living word of God.

In modern times, it is usual for some scholars to become sofers, or trained scribes, and to be paid to complete a Sefer Torah under contract on behalf of a community or by individuals to mark a special occasion or commemoration. because of the work involved, these can cost tens of thousands of United States dollars to produce to ritually proper standards.

The use of gevil and certain types of parchment has allowed some sifrei Torah of antiquity to survive intact for over 800 years.

Printed versions of the Torah are known as a Chumash (plural Chumashim). They are treated as respected texts, but not anywhere near the level of sacredness accorded a Sefer Torah, which is often a major possession of a Jewish community. A chumash contains the Torah and other writings, usually organised for liturgical use, and sometimes accompanied by some of the main classic commentaries on individual verses and word choices, for the benefit of the reader.

Usage

Torah reading from a sefer Torah is usually reserved for Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), and for brief readings on Monday and Thursday mornings, and on other Jewish holidays.

During cantillation, following the often dense text is aided by a yad ("hand"), a metal or wooden hand-shaped pointer that protects the scrolls by avoiding unnecessary contact of the skin with the parchment.

Introduction of a new sefer Torah into a synagogue is often accompanied by celebratory dancing, singing, and prayer. This is a very ancient celebration; in First Temple times, around 1000 BCE, the Bible comments that the priests, and even ancient Hebrew kings such as David, "danced before the ark" or "danced before the Lord", both meaning they danced, celebrated and prayed (often in an ecstatic manner) before the Ark of the Covenant, where God's word was held.

External links

Summary of weekly Torah portion

Sefer Torah | ספר תורה | Torárull | Sefer Tora

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Sefer Torah