275:
42:
507:
266:, New York, United States; studying comes with the option of receiving a certificate, though certification of this sort is not a halachic requirement, nor does it necessarily guarantee the quality of a particular sofer's work. This process does, however, ensure that a certified sofer has received the proper education and is a recognized expert in the field of sofrut.
54:
431:
1056:
396:
does not include women in its list of those ineligible to write Sifrei Torah, some see this as proof that women are permitted to write a sefer Torah. However, today, virtually all
Orthodox (both Modern and Ultra) authorities contest the permissibility of a woman's writing a sefer Torah. Yet, women
573:
Many scribes also function as calligraphers—writing functional documents like ketubot, 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.
418:, a British woman, became the first woman to scribe a sefer Torah. In 2010, the first sefer Torah scribed by a group of six women (from Brazil, Canada, Israel, and the United States) was completed; this was known as the
548:
each have their own script for forming the letters, though the same rules apply throughout the text. Generally, regarding sifrei Torah, none of these groups would consider that these differences would render a Torah
180:(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.
217:
A sofer must be religiously observant, of good character, and knowledgeable about the laws concerning sofrut. It is a common misconception that one has to be a
877:
532:
There are many rules concerning the proper formation of letters that must be followed if a written text is to be deemed religiously valid. The
1225:
241:, but, rather, remembering the thousands of laws that apply to sifrei Torah, tefillin, mezuzot, and all the other texts that are written on
362:(Hilchot Tefillin u'Mezuzah v'Sefer Torah, Hilchot Tzitzit), though before Mishneh Torah, their standard was based on the Rama, i.e. Rabbi
230:(apprenticeship), since it would be impossible for someone to be a scribe without any actual practice. Newly certified scribes write
1235:
1215:
1196:
682:
878:"Julie Seltzer, a female Torah scribe from San Francisco, contributed to the first Torah scroll to be written by a group of women"
1220:
1011:
968:
778:
422:. Since then, other women have written Torah scrolls. As of 2014, there were an estimated 50 female sofers around the world.
254:, an international organization whose goal is to protect the halachic and artistic integrity of the scribal arts, located in
944:
136:
is much more. Besides sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzot, scribes are necessary to write the Five
Megillot (scrolls of the
921:
1230:
752:
701:
388:, are unfit for ritual use." The rulings on mezuzot and tefillin are virtually undisputed among those who hold to the
380:
45b states, "Sifrei Torah, tefillin and mezuzot written by a heretic, a star-worshipper, a slave, a woman, a minor, a
286:
83:
856:
495:
419:
1185:
1121:
648:
473:
167:
35:
899:
354:
Baladi Rite
Yemenite (Teimani) scribes try to follow as closely as possible only the instruction of the
172:, divorce documents. Many scribes also function as calligraphers—writing functional documents such as
1169:
463:
153:
1004:
633:
621:
415:
385:
274:
442:
Besides Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot, scribes are also necessary for the writing of the
224:
People who want to become ritual scribes usually learn from another expert scribe by undergoing
678:
1164:
613:
393:
338:
282:
202:
198:
31:
948:
527:
511:
479:
305:
78:
414:
Among non-Orthodox Jews, women have written Torah scrolls since the early 2000s. In 2007
1177:
1045:
1040:
997:
593:
583:
533:
455:
348:
232:
145:
1209:
1145:
1108:
537:
447:
443:
408:
363:
359:
334:
309:
137:
104:
963:
41:
1103:
545:
491:
459:
451:
149:
141:
941:
1087:
238:
1072:
636:
401:(marriage contracts), STaM not intended for ritual use, and other writings of
381:
157:
292:
The main texts from which
Ashkenaz soferim learn the scribal art include the
1064:
559:
506:
483:
259:
255:
242:
46:
989:
756:
727:
K'tav Tam
Sephardi: A Compendium of Classic Sources on Jewish Scribal Rules
834:
740:
K'tav Tam
Teimani: A Compendium of Classic Sources on Jewish Scribal Rules
705:
125:, is an abbreviation of these three terms) and other religious writings.
53:
1137:
791:
467:
435:
263:
161:
108:
1129:
1113:
398:
374:
Forming the basis for the discussion of women becoming soferim, Talmud
184:
175:
133:
129:
112:
17:
1021:
588:
563:
541:
523:
487:
389:
355:
194:
100:
813:"Simchat Torah with a Soferet's Torah | Jewish Women's Archive"
430:
689:
I began like every other scribe by writing copies of
Megilas Esther
1077:
1055:
617:
429:
273:
218:
52:
40:
812:
620:, and the second to final as it occurs in the text of the Torah,
411:
became the world's first known, traditionally trained, soferet.
1082:
567:
519:
337:(Hilchot Tefillin u'Mezuzah v'Sefer Torah, Hilchot Tzitzit), on
206:
993:
466:) and Nevi'im (the books of the prophets, used for reading the
312:(Hilchot Tefillin u'Mezuzah v'Sefer Torah, Hilchot Tzitzit),
514:
as they would be written scribally (a digital approximation)
57:
A Middle
Eastern sofer sews together the pieces of parchment
983:
978:
486:, soferim also write the other books of the Bible, such as
248:
Some people who want to become ritual scribes learn at the
237:. The hardest part about learning to be a sofer is not the
973:
494:. This was promoted in 19th-century Jerusalem by Rabbi
478:(divorce documents). In some communities, especially
550:
471:
402:
375:
342:
325:
319:
313:
299:
293:
249:
225:
188:
173:
165:
88:
1157:
1096:
1063:
1033:
922:"– Female Jewish scribe helps keep tradition alive"
558:The documents must be written on properly prepared
835:"As New Year Dawns, Jewish Women Mark Milestones"
160:(the books of the prophets, used for reading the
1005:
742:(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Yiddishkeit 101, 2021).
729:(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Yiddishkeit 101, 2021).
8:
209:should write a sefer Torah before they die.
120:
94:
624:31:19, the final being in Deuteronomy 32:38
1012:
998:
990:
974:Overview of a sofer's work www.sofer.co.uk
193:, the practice of scribal arts, is in the
942:Some details on letters, with animations
505:
792:"A Female Scribe's Trailblazing Effort"
605:
333:Sephardic soferim rely, in addition to
407:beyond simple STaM. In 2003, Canadian
7:
857:"Women's Torah dedicated in Seattle"
833:Leah Hochbaum Rosner (2007-09-12).
205:, the second to last is that every
121:
95:
82:
128:By simple definition, soferim are
25:
1197:Category:Jewish scribes (soferim)
900:"Torah, she wrote - Jewish World"
1054:
790:Alice Lowenstein (2005-06-03).
364:Meir ben Todros HaLevy Abulafia
30:For the talmudic tractate, see
510:The first four letters of the
132:, but their religious role in
1:
815:. Jwablog.jwa.org. 2006-10-13
704:. Sofer.co.uk. Archived from
555:(ritually unfit or invalid).
1226:Jewish religious occupations
855:Fishkoff, Sue (2010-10-15).
438:. Note the four-pronged Shin
426:Documents written by scribes
221:in order to become a sofer.
213:Qualifications and education
920:Jeff Kunerth (2014-08-23).
551:
472:
403:
376:
343:
326:
320:
314:
300:
294:
250:
226:
189:
174:
166:
89:
1252:
517:
397:are permitted to inscribe
29:
1194:
1052:
880:. Jweekly.com. 2010-10-21
502:Calligraphy and lettering
262:in Israel, as well as in
1236:Hebrew words and phrases
1216:Jewish scribes (soferim)
984:Machon Melechet Shamayim
496:Shemuel Shelomo Boyarski
287:National Museum, Wrocław
1186:Torah scroll (Yemenite)
1221:Jewish law and rituals
979:Learning to be a sofer
515:
439:
289:
58:
50:
36:Sofer (disambiguation)
34:. For other uses, see
1180:(scribal corrections)
969:What makes ST"M pasul
947:May 10, 2016, at the
509:
433:
420:Women's Torah Project
277:
270:Texts teaching sofrut
56:
44:
1116:(marriage contracts)
964:Vaad Mishmereth STaM
600:References and notes
464:Book of Lamentations
251:Vaad Mishmereth STaM
154:Book of Lamentations
1124:(divorce documents)
759:on October 19, 2009
622:Book of Deuteronomy
416:Jen Taylor Friedman
103:who can transcribe
87:, "scribe"; plural
1231:Hebrew calligraphy
753:"Women and Sofrut"
516:
440:
327:Likkut Sifrey Stam
290:
201:". In the Torah's
59:
51:
1203:
1202:
1178:Tiqqunei soferim
986:Sofer Stam School
924:. Pressherald.com
616:as enumerated by
544:(Lubavitch), and
344:Beit Yosef on Tur
197:in the tractate "
45:A sofer at work,
16:(Redirected from
1243:
1181:
1173:
1165:Soferim (Talmud)
1158:Related articles
1149:
1141:
1133:
1125:
1117:
1058:
1034:Lists of scribes
1014:
1007:
1000:
991:
951:
939:
933:
932:
930:
929:
917:
911:
910:
908:
907:
895:
889:
888:
886:
885:
874:
868:
867:
865:
864:
852:
846:
845:
843:
842:
830:
824:
823:
821:
820:
809:
803:
802:
800:
799:
787:
781:
775:
769:
768:
766:
764:
755:. Archived from
749:
743:
736:
730:
723:
717:
716:
714:
713:
698:
692:
691:
670:
664:
663:
661:
660:
645:
639:
631:
625:
614:613 commandments
610:
554:
482:'s community in
477:
446:(scrolls of the
406:
379:
370:Women and sofrut
346:
329:
323:
317:
303:
297:
283:Maurycy Gottlieb
279:The Torah Scribe
253:
229:
203:613 commandments
192:
179:
171:
124:
123:
111:(phylacteries),
107:(holy scrolls),
98:
97:
92:
86:
32:Soferim (Talmud)
21:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1245:
1244:
1242:
1241:
1240:
1206:
1205:
1204:
1199:
1190:
1179:
1171:
1153:
1147:
1139:
1131:
1123:
1115:
1092:
1059:
1050:
1029:
1018:
960:
955:
954:
949:Wayback Machine
940:
936:
927:
925:
919:
918:
914:
905:
903:
897:
896:
892:
883:
881:
876:
875:
871:
862:
860:
854:
853:
849:
840:
838:
832:
831:
827:
818:
816:
811:
810:
806:
797:
795:
789:
788:
784:
779:Orah Hayyim 271
776:
772:
762:
760:
751:
750:
746:
737:
733:
724:
720:
711:
709:
700:
699:
695:
685:
672:
671:
667:
658:
656:
647:
646:
642:
632:
628:
611:
607:
602:
580:
530:
528:Ashuri alphabet
518:Main articles:
512:Hebrew alphabet
504:
480:Chaim Kanievsky
428:
372:
315:Mishnat Hasofer
306:Mishnah Berurah
272:
215:
39:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1249:
1247:
1239:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1208:
1207:
1201:
1200:
1195:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1188:
1183:
1175:
1167:
1161:
1159:
1155:
1154:
1152:
1151:
1143:
1135:
1127:
1119:
1111:
1106:
1100:
1098:
1094:
1093:
1091:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1069:
1067:
1061:
1060:
1053:
1051:
1049:
1048:
1046:List of sofers
1043:
1041:Great Assembly
1037:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1019:
1017:
1016:
1009:
1002:
994:
988:
987:
981:
976:
971:
966:
959:
958:External links
956:
953:
952:
934:
912:
890:
869:
847:
825:
804:
782:
770:
744:
731:
718:
693:
683:
677:. p. 98.
665:
640:
626:
604:
603:
601:
598:
597:
596:
594:Tiqqun soferim
591:
586:
584:List of sofers
579:
576:
503:
500:
456:Book of Esther
427:
424:
371:
368:
349:Shulchan Arukh
321:Mishnat Sofrim
295:Keset Ha-Sofer
271:
268:
233:Megilat Esther
214:
211:
199:Maseket Sofrim
187:pertaining to
146:Book of Esther
99:) is a Jewish
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1248:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1213:
1211:
1198:
1193:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1176:
1174:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1150:
1144:
1142:
1136:
1134:
1128:
1126:
1120:
1118:
1112:
1110:
1109:Five Megillot
1107:
1105:
1102:
1101:
1099:
1095:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1062:
1057:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1027:
1023:
1015:
1010:
1008:
1003:
1001:
996:
995:
992:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
961:
957:
950:
946:
943:
938:
935:
923:
916:
913:
901:
894:
891:
879:
873:
870:
858:
851:
848:
837:. Forward.com
836:
829:
826:
814:
808:
805:
794:. Forward.com
793:
786:
783:
780:
774:
771:
758:
754:
748:
745:
741:
735:
732:
728:
722:
719:
708:on 2016-06-18
707:
703:
697:
694:
690:
686:
684:1-58330-880-6
680:
676:
673:A. M. Amitz.
669:
666:
654:
653:HaSoferet.com
650:
644:
641:
638:
635:
630:
627:
623:
619:
615:
609:
606:
599:
595:
592:
590:
587:
585:
582:
581:
577:
575:
571:
569:
565:
561:
556:
553:
547:
543:
539:
535:
529:
525:
521:
513:
508:
501:
499:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
476:
475:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
449:
448:Song of Songs
445:
444:Five Megillot
437:
432:
425:
423:
421:
417:
412:
410:
409:Aviel Barclay
405:
400:
395:
394:Arba'ah Turim
391:
387:
383:
378:
369:
367:
365:
361:
360:Mishneh Torah
357:
352:
350:
345:
340:
339:Arba'ah Turim
336:
335:Mishneh Torah
331:
328:
322:
316:
311:
310:Mishneh Torah
307:
302:
301:Chasdey David
296:
288:
284:
280:
276:
269:
267:
265:
261:
257:
252:
246:
244:
240:
236:
234:
228:
222:
220:
212:
210:
208:
204:
200:
196:
191:
186:
181:
178:
177:
170:
169:
163:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
138:Song of Songs
135:
131:
126:
118:
114:
110:
106:
105:Sifrei Kodesh
102:
91:
85:
80:
76:
72:
68:
64:
55:
48:
43:
37:
33:
27:Jewish scribe
19:
1148:(guide text)
1025:
937:
926:. Retrieved
915:
904:. Retrieved
898:Spiro, Amy.
893:
882:. Retrieved
872:
861:. Retrieved
850:
839:. Retrieved
828:
817:. Retrieved
807:
796:. Retrieved
785:
773:
763:February 18,
761:. Retrieved
757:the original
747:
739:
738:Brian Tice,
734:
726:
725:Brian Tice,
721:
710:. Retrieved
706:the original
696:
688:
675:Well Put (2)
674:
668:
657:. Retrieved
655:. 2014-02-02
652:
643:
629:
612:82nd of the
608:
572:
557:
546:Mizrahi Jews
531:
492:Book of Ezra
460:Ecclesiastes
452:Book of Ruth
441:
413:
386:apostate Jew
373:
353:
332:
291:
278:
247:
231:
223:
216:
182:
150:Ecclesiastes
142:Book of Ruth
127:
116:
74:
70:
66:
62:
60:
1132:(doorposts)
1104:Sefer Torah
1088:Ktav Ashuri
902:. Jpost.com
649:"Chapter 1"
634:Deuteronomy
470:), and for
239:calligraphy
164:), and for
71:sofer SeTaM
1210:Categories
1073:Duchsustus
928:2015-05-17
906:2015-05-17
884:2015-05-17
863:2015-05-17
841:2015-05-17
819:2015-05-17
798:2015-05-17
712:2015-05-17
659:2023-08-13
434:A pair of
324:, and the
183:The major
75:sofer ST"M
1140:(amulets)
1138:Tefillin
1097:Documents
1065:Ktav Stam
859:. Jta.org
702:"sources"
566:known as
560:parchment
534:Ashkenazi
484:Bnei Brak
308:(24-45),
260:Bnei Brak
256:Jerusalem
243:parchment
84:סופר סת״ם
47:Ein Bokek
1172:(serifs)
1130:Mezuzot
1114:Ketubot
945:Archived
578:See also
468:haftarah
436:tefillin
392:. While
384:, or an
264:Brooklyn
162:haftarah
130:copyists
109:tefillin
49:, Israel
1146:Tiqqun
1122:Gittin
1026:soferim
1022:scribes
1020:Jewish
538:Sefardi
490:or the
399:Ketubot
382:Cuthean
358:, i.e.
235:scrolls
227:shimush
185:halakha
176:ketubot
158:Nevi'im
134:Judaism
113:mezuzot
90:soferim
1170:Tagin
681:
589:Scribe
564:vellum
542:Chabad
526:, and
524:Kulmus
488:Psalms
474:gittin
462:, and
404:sofrut
390:Talmud
377:Gittin
356:Rambam
347:, and
195:Talmud
190:sofrut
168:gittin
152:, and
101:scribe
96:סופרים
79:Hebrew
67:sopher
18:Sofrut
1078:Gevil
777:Tur,
637:31:19
618:Rashi
552:posul
219:rabbi
73:, or
63:sofer
1083:Klaf
765:2016
679:ISBN
568:klaf
520:Klaf
258:and
122:סת״ם
117:ST"M
562:or
281:by
207:Jew
156:),
1212::
687:.
651:.
570:.
540:,
536:,
522:,
498:.
458:,
454:,
450:,
366:.
351:.
341:,
330:.
318:,
304:,
298:,
285:,
245:.
148:,
144:,
140:,
119:,
93:,
81::
69:,
65:,
61:A
1028:)
1024:(
1013:e
1006:t
999:v
931:.
909:.
887:.
866:.
844:.
822:.
801:.
767:.
715:.
662:.
115:(
77:(
38:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
