SOFER
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(Redirected from Sofer (scribe))
heruses2|Sofer}}
'Sofer' (''also 'Sofer STaM' or 'Sofer ST"M' he:'' ) is a Jewish scribe who can write Torah scrolls, Tefillin, and Mezuzot. This is a person who, by simple definition is a copyist - but by Jewish definition is much more. The major Halakha pertaining to Sofrut is in Maseket Sofrim. Of the 613 Mitzvot the 613th is that a Sofer should complete a Sefer Torah in his lifetime.
The word ST"M is an abbreviation which stands for Sefer Torahs, Tefillin, Mezuzot.
The plural of ''Sofer'' is 'Soferim'.
A female Sofer is a 'Soferet' (plural 'Soferot').
The noun 'Sofrut' refers to the practice of scribal arts.
It is a common misconception that one has to be a rabbi in order to become a Sofer. This is not a requirements under halacha, although a sofer should be observant, of good character, and knowledgeable about the laws concerning safrut.
Forming the basis for the discussion of women becoming Soferot, Talmud Gittin 45b states: "Sifrei Torah, tefillin and mezuzot written by, an heretic, a star-worshipper, a slave, a woman, a minor, a Cuthean, or an apostate Jew, are unfit for ritual use" [1]. Its specificity leaves little to be challenged for those who hold to the Talmudic Law. Its specificity can also open a whole world of acceptance to women: Ketubot, Megillot, STaM not for ritual use, and other writings of Sofrut beyond simple STaM.
★ Avielah Barclay(certified)[2] see ''Soferet''
★ Jen Taylor Friedman[3]
Generally, one learns how to work as a Sofer via apprenticeship. Then one attempts to be certified, usually by the Vaad Mishmereth STaM - an Israeli organization whose goal is to protect the art of Sofrut.
There are many rules concerning the proper formation on letters if the written text is to be valid. Some details on letters, with animations
The Ashkenaz, Sefard, Chabad (Lubavitch), and Am Mizrachi each have their own script for forming the letters, though the same rules apply in all cases. Think of it as a font: the shape of the letters is the same, but the style can be incredibly different. Generally, regarding Sefer Torahs, none would consider the other ''posul'', though they would each consider their own "highly preferable."
The documents must be written on properly prepared parchment or vellum known as klaf.
Main articles: klaf
Main articles: Ashuri_alphabet
Besides Torah scrolls, ''Tefillin'', and ''Mezuzot'', scribes are also necessary the writing of ''Megillot'' (scrolls of the Song of Songs, Book of Ruth, Book of Esther, Ecclesiastes, and Book of Lamentations) and Nevi'im (the books of the prophets, used for reading the haftarah, and for ''Gittin'' - divorce documents. In some communities, especially Rabbi Kaniefsky's community in Bene Beraq, soferim also write the other books of the bible, such as Psalms or Ezra.
Also many scribes function as calligraphers — writing functional documents such as marriage contracts, or ornamental and artistic renditions of religious texts — which do not require any scribal qualifications, and to which the rules on lettering and parchment specifications do not apply.
Recently a new work for sofrim to write was created by Marc Michaels (Mordechai Pinchas) based on a new piece of liturgy created by the American Assembly of Rabbis and the Schechter Institute - Megillat Hashoah - to commemorate the Holocaust. See diaries at http://www.sofer.co.uk
The main texts from with Sofrim learn the scribal art include: The Keset Ha-Sofer, Chasdey David, Mishnah B'rurah Volume I(B) - The laws of T'fillin,Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillin u’Mezuzah v’Sefer Torah. Hilchot Tzitzit, Mishnat Hasofer, Mishnat Sofrim, Likkut Sifrey Stam. (From http://www.sofer.co.uk/html/sources.htm)
The process of learning Sofrut can be long and tedious. The hardest part about learning to be a Sofer is not the calligraphy, but rather remembering the thousands of laws that apply to Sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls), Tefillin (Phylacteries) and Mezuzot and all the other texts that are written on parchment.
People who want to become ritual scribes usually learn from another expert scribe by undergoing Shimush (Apprenticeship), since it would be impossible for someone to be a certified scribe without any actual practice. Other people who want to become ritual scribes learn at the Vaad Mishmereth STa"M in Jerusalem, Israel, with the option of receiving a certificate.
★ Scribe
★ Klaf
★ ''Soferet''
★ http://www.torahscribe.com/
★ Vaad Mishmereth STaM
★ ongoing research about historical female sofrot
★ What makes ST"M pasul
★ Overview of a sofer's work
heruses2|Sofer}}
'Sofer' (''also 'Sofer STaM' or 'Sofer ST"M' he:'' ) is a Jewish scribe who can write Torah scrolls, Tefillin, and Mezuzot. This is a person who, by simple definition is a copyist - but by Jewish definition is much more. The major Halakha pertaining to Sofrut is in Maseket Sofrim. Of the 613 Mitzvot the 613th is that a Sofer should complete a Sefer Torah in his lifetime.
The word ST"M is an abbreviation which stands for Sefer Torahs, Tefillin, Mezuzot.
The plural of ''Sofer'' is 'Soferim'.
A female Sofer is a 'Soferet' (plural 'Soferot').
The noun 'Sofrut' refers to the practice of scribal arts.
| Contents |
| Who |
| Women and Sofrut |
| How |
| Letters |
| Documents written by scribes |
| Sofrut texts |
| Becoming a Sofer |
| See also |
| External links |
Who
It is a common misconception that one has to be a rabbi in order to become a Sofer. This is not a requirements under halacha, although a sofer should be observant, of good character, and knowledgeable about the laws concerning safrut.
A Sofer finishing the final letters of a Torah scroll
Women and Sofrut
Forming the basis for the discussion of women becoming Soferot, Talmud Gittin 45b states: "Sifrei Torah, tefillin and mezuzot written by, an heretic, a star-worshipper, a slave, a woman, a minor, a Cuthean, or an apostate Jew, are unfit for ritual use" [1]. Its specificity leaves little to be challenged for those who hold to the Talmudic Law. Its specificity can also open a whole world of acceptance to women: Ketubot, Megillot, STaM not for ritual use, and other writings of Sofrut beyond simple STaM.
★ Avielah Barclay(certified)[2] see ''Soferet''
★ Jen Taylor Friedman[3]
How
Generally, one learns how to work as a Sofer via apprenticeship. Then one attempts to be certified, usually by the Vaad Mishmereth STaM - an Israeli organization whose goal is to protect the art of Sofrut.
Letters
The first four letters of the Hebrew alphabet as they would be written scribally
There are many rules concerning the proper formation on letters if the written text is to be valid. Some details on letters, with animations
The Ashkenaz, Sefard, Chabad (Lubavitch), and Am Mizrachi each have their own script for forming the letters, though the same rules apply in all cases. Think of it as a font: the shape of the letters is the same, but the style can be incredibly different. Generally, regarding Sefer Torahs, none would consider the other ''posul'', though they would each consider their own "highly preferable."
The documents must be written on properly prepared parchment or vellum known as klaf.
Main articles: klaf
Main articles: Ashuri_alphabet
Documents written by scribes
Besides Torah scrolls, ''Tefillin'', and ''Mezuzot'', scribes are also necessary the writing of ''Megillot'' (scrolls of the Song of Songs, Book of Ruth, Book of Esther, Ecclesiastes, and Book of Lamentations) and Nevi'im (the books of the prophets, used for reading the haftarah, and for ''Gittin'' - divorce documents. In some communities, especially Rabbi Kaniefsky's community in Bene Beraq, soferim also write the other books of the bible, such as Psalms or Ezra.
Also many scribes function as calligraphers — writing functional documents such as marriage contracts, or ornamental and artistic renditions of religious texts — which do not require any scribal qualifications, and to which the rules on lettering and parchment specifications do not apply.
Recently a new work for sofrim to write was created by Marc Michaels (Mordechai Pinchas) based on a new piece of liturgy created by the American Assembly of Rabbis and the Schechter Institute - Megillat Hashoah - to commemorate the Holocaust. See diaries at http://www.sofer.co.uk
Sofrut texts
The main texts from with Sofrim learn the scribal art include: The Keset Ha-Sofer, Chasdey David, Mishnah B'rurah Volume I(B) - The laws of T'fillin,Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillin u’Mezuzah v’Sefer Torah. Hilchot Tzitzit, Mishnat Hasofer, Mishnat Sofrim, Likkut Sifrey Stam. (From http://www.sofer.co.uk/html/sources.htm)
Becoming a Sofer
The process of learning Sofrut can be long and tedious. The hardest part about learning to be a Sofer is not the calligraphy, but rather remembering the thousands of laws that apply to Sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls), Tefillin (Phylacteries) and Mezuzot and all the other texts that are written on parchment.
People who want to become ritual scribes usually learn from another expert scribe by undergoing Shimush (Apprenticeship), since it would be impossible for someone to be a certified scribe without any actual practice. Other people who want to become ritual scribes learn at the Vaad Mishmereth STa"M in Jerusalem, Israel, with the option of receiving a certificate.
See also
★ Scribe
★ Klaf
★ ''Soferet''
External links
★ http://www.torahscribe.com/
★ Vaad Mishmereth STaM
★ ongoing research about historical female sofrot
★ What makes ST"M pasul
★ Overview of a sofer's work
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