Sefer Torah
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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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Dedicating a Torah Scroll
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. It is a tremendous merit to write (or commision writing of) a Sefer Torah, and a significant honor to have a Sefer Torah written in one's honor or memory.
[edit] Production
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 (see for example the Mishna Berura on the subject at [1]). Any of several Hebrew scripts may be used, most of which are fairly ornate and exacting. The fidelity of the Hebrew text of the Tanakh, and the Torah in particular, is considered paramount, 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 specialist skill is required and a scroll takes considerable time to write and check.
[edit] 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.
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] See also
- Mezuzah
- Torah reading
- Parsha (weekly readings from a Sefer Torah)
- Tikkun (book) (used to prepare for the reading of Sefer Torah in synagogue)
- The Five Scrolls
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