Mi Yodeya Stack Exchange
Mi Yodeya Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [safrus]

Ritual scribal work relating to the writing of holy texts

172 questions
6
votes
2 answers

Safrut in practice - Calculating Ma Tovu at the top of the column

I think this question might be best answered by a professional sofer or someone who has written a Torah even once. There is a fairly "strong" minhag to place the verse of Ma Tovu at the top of the column. Actually, there are 6 verses that start at…
DanF
  • 70,416
  • 8
  • 59
  • 244
5
votes
1 answer

What is Sta"m ink made from?

I have several questions related to Sta"m (Torah, mezuzot tefillin) ink: What materials are allowable? What materials are typically used to make the ink? Why these materials, specifically? (cheaper, easier to obtain, better quality, etc.)? How is…
DanF
  • 70,416
  • 8
  • 59
  • 244
4
votes
1 answer

Can one add in missing words above the line in a Torah scroll?

One of the Torah's in my shul has this interesting safrut style. Note that the last word of the verse appears between the lines. It seems that the Sofer (scribe) ran out of room, and stuck in the last word. I asked my rav to explain this. He's not a…
DanF
  • 70,416
  • 8
  • 59
  • 244
4
votes
0 answers

Writing a ה or ק half on a patch and half off

When you need to patch a Torah, the practice is to write a letter either entirely on the original klaf or entirely on the patch, but not partly on one and partly on the other. See eg. Keset HaSofer 18:6: ובלבד שיכתוב כל האות על הטלאי. אבל אם כתב…
magicker72
  • 9,904
  • 28
  • 68
3
votes
1 answer

What are the symbols in the margins of the Aleppo codex?

I'm doing some research on the history of safrut and am trying to gain some understanding of the Aleppo Codex, in particular. I'm curious what all the symbols in the margin mean. See here for a sample. Is there some online resource that explains…
DanF
  • 70,416
  • 8
  • 59
  • 244
3
votes
0 answers

Where can one see how klaf is made?

One elementary grade yeshiva in my area has a "creative" activities director that tries to hunt for some "unusual" day trips for the kids. Sometimes, I assist him. I'm curious if there are any places in or near the New York City area where kids and…
DanF
  • 70,416
  • 8
  • 59
  • 244
3
votes
0 answers

Can a ger tzedek be a sofer?

I just heard from somebody that there is a machlokes whether a ger tzedek can be a sofer or not. What are the sources (if any)? If it is, then would that make it impossible to earn money as one if you're a ger?
Elishe
  • 31
  • 3
1
vote
0 answers

Is untanned klaf kosher?

A recent article (here) was written by Rabbi Hoffman. He writes that the Mishnah lays out a detailed process for tanning klaf, which was held as the only kasher form of parchment by nearly all sages for StaM until Rabbeinu Tam, who ruled that the…
Ben Weissman
  • 143
  • 4
1
vote
0 answers

May one etch punctuation and trop into a sefer torah?

Is a Torah still kosher if various annotations are scored into the parchment? To be clear, I am asking not about writing annotations, but scratching them into the parchment.
Clint Eastwood
  • 8,303
  • 17
  • 44
-1
votes
1 answer

Is there a ketivat ot for tefillin or mezuzot?

I've heard and attended a few ketivat ot ceremonies for the writing of a Torah. I've never heard of a similar ceremony for tefillin or mezuzot. I assume that it may be that these items have far fewer letters? Nonetheless, there certainly are enough…
DanF
  • 70,416
  • 8
  • 59
  • 244