Questions tagged [sefer-torah]
A scroll of parchment on which is written the Five Books of Moses. Portions from it are read aloud in synagogue at least 4 times a week.
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Is there ever a rule not to place certain words on separate lines in a Sefer Torah?
The Gemara in Chulin 64b - 65 discusses the Bas Hayaana bird, and explains that although that is indeed the name of the bird, the fact that it is two separate words allows us to also interpret them ...
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Are any communities using Sifrei Torah without “rollers”?
I think there was some mention in Mas. Megillah that discussed the method of doing hagbah and the usage of a mitpachat ("kerchief / cloth") for handling and covering the Torah. From this idea, it ...
2
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1answer
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Why is the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה small?
In Parshat צו, Chapter 6, verse 2 the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה is small according to Minchas Shai.
Why is the מ in מוֹקְדָ֨ה small?
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Additional differences of Rashi's Torah scroll
Rashi on Shmot 25,20 interprets the Vav we don't have in our Torah scrolls:
"ואת כל אשר אצוה אותך אל בני ישראל. הרי וי"ו זו יתירה וטפלה, וכמוהו הרבה במקרא"
Siftey Chachamim explains:
"אע"פ שאין ...
2
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1answer
71 views
Can I see a list of the 18 Tikunei Sofrim (emendations of the scribes), with each described?
Can I see a list of the 18 Tikunei Sofrim(emendations of the scribes)? (Describing each of them)
I have found various references to the 18 Tikunei Sofrim online, but no elaboration on what each one ...
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1answer
62 views
Why is the Torah not written in chronological order?
Many parts of the Torah skip ahead or revert back several chapters or verses thereby rendering it NOT written in chronological order. What is the reason for this?
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4answers
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Can a sefer Torah serve as a mezuzah?
This question is inspired by the extremely large mezuzot at Ben-Gurion airport (original image, rehost).
If one attached a complete, kosher sefer Torah to a sufficiently large doorpost, would it ...
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2answers
127 views
Can women in niddah dance and hold a sefer Torah on Simkhat Torah?
Is there any opinion that allows women in niddah to dance holding the sefer Torah on Simkhat Torah?
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1answer
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Is a Pasul Torah scroll considered a Muktzeh on Shabbat?
I know that there are different categories of Muktzeh. One category that is difficult for me to understand is the concept that if something has no use at all on Shabbat (or use for any purpose) it is ...
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5answers
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Why is the Torah divided into five books?
When the Torah refers to itself, it refers to itself in the singular. There are numerous verses, notably in Devarim. One notable example Devarim 31:16 (Sefaria English translation:)
"לָקֹחַ אֵת ...
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1answer
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Do we fast when someone trips and falls while holding a Sefer Torah?
When dropping a Sefer Torah, the custom is to fast, but what is the minhag if I trip and fall while holding a Sefer Torah?
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1answer
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How are Sephardi Sifrei Torah assembled?
I rarely daven in Sephardi shuls, so I'm curious as to how Sephardi Sifrei Torah are "assembled" from the time it is written on parchment until it is put into the case.
Ashkenazi Sifrei Torah are "...
2
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1answer
38 views
When is a Torah scroll kosher? [duplicate]
A Torah scroll that is damaged cannot be used. But if the "good" parts of several Torah scrolls are stitched together, is the resulting scroll kosher? Or does the fact that more than one scribe ...
3
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0answers
72 views
Pesicha of 3 Sifrei Torah: special time
Someone sent me a voice recording of someone mentioning an idea from the Sefer Heichalos that when there is we open 3 sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls, on shabbas – chanuka – rosh chodesh), then there is a ...
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1answer
49 views
Torah Hebrew calligraphy [closed]
I want to know what was the calligraphy used in the first Torah manuscript? I searched Google but found no answer.
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2answers
133 views
Are Tefillin allowed to be put in a prison?
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 135:14) states that one should not bring a Sefer Torah into a prison.:
"בני אדם החבושים בבית האסורין אין מביאי' אצלם ס"ת אפילו בר"ה ויה"כ: הגה והיינו דוקא בשעת ...
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votes
1answer
64 views
How can I eliminate or reduce the musty “sheepy” Torah odor?
I was inspired to follow up on this question that asks about cleaning Torah scrolls.
My shul building is about 90 years old. The Aron has 10 Torah scrolls - only 4 of them usable. This ark is opened ...
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1answer
118 views
Cleaning a Torah Scroll
Our shul recently had a sofer in to look at our newer Torah scroll. He suggested to the Rabbi that we clean the scrolls regularly, which we have never done. So we did it a few days ago, about 20 of ...
2
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1answer
129 views
Donations from non-Jews
Are donations to Torah institutions from non-Jews acceptable?
Does it make a difference if they donate money or objects (e.g. a sefer Torah)? Does it make a difference who the donor is and what their ...
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1answer
61 views
Can any part of Sta"m-making be done by a Gentile?
There are several steps that I can think of that "precede" or are "peripheral" to the actual writing of Sta"m (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and mezuzot). Can any of these be done by a Gentile?
Preparation /...
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1answer
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Why cant a Sefer torah be written by a machine [duplicate]
It seems that Sefer toras can't be used for torah readings/alias(since nobody uses them for it and the amazing facts and feats book mentions a machine made Sefer can't be used. But Why cant a Sefer ...
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2answers
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Do all the letters in Sta“m need to be the same ”baseline" height?
I know that prior to writing a column in a Sefer Torah, a Sofer "scores" the parchment to mark the rows. I am also aware that certain letters have "risers" and "descenders" (e.g. a final nun has a ...
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1answer
45 views
Can one Sefer Torah be in front of another one in an Aron?
My shul building is about 80 years old. The aron is huge and holds 10 Sifrei Torah arranged on 2 rows. The back row is higher than the front one.
I noticed that all the "older" shuls that have a ...
2
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1answer
112 views
Can a previously used Aron Kodesh be used a Sefarim closet?
Someone in my neighborhood wants to donate a used Aron Kodesh to a shul. There is a shul in my neighborhood that I thought could use it, but they have one, already. But, I'm wondering if they would be ...
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1answer
201 views
Seeing a Torah scroll fall in a dream
What significance or symbolism, if any, is there if a person sees a torah scroll fall to the floor in a dream?
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1answer
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Were children ever given the honor of reading the Torah scroll in the first century? [closed]
Given that in the first century, Jewish boys were taught the Torah from ~6 to 10 in the synagogue, was there ever any likelihood of an exceptionally-literate and gifted pupil being selected to read ...
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0answers
54 views
Is there a source which states that the Baal Koreh should accompany the Sefer Torah back to the Ark?
Shulchan Oruch O Ch 23 149 (1) writes
הגה - ובמקומות שמצניעין אותו בהיכל שהוא הארון בב"ה מצוה לכל מי שעוברת
לפניו ללותה עד לפני הארון שמכניסין אותו שם [ד"ע ומהרי"ל] וכן הגולל ילך
אחר הס"ת עד ...
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0answers
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Sephardic Sefer Torah Case [duplicate]
When did the Minhag of Sephardim using an upright standing Torah case begin? From the gemara in Megila 32a it's pretty clear that in the times of Chazal this was not the prevalent custom.
So to ...
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0answers
83 views
Sephardic Sefer Torah Case - Why? [duplicate]
Do the Sephardic poskim explain why their Sifrei Torah are placed in a cylindrical case?
This question assumes that this was a later development and did not exist at the time of Chazal.
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2answers
62 views
Why are specifically the land of Israel and the Torah called a “Morasha”?
If I have this correct, the Torah calls only two items מורשה - the Torah, itself as in Devarim 33:4 and the land of Israel (Cana'an) as in Shemot 6:8. I read, I think in both Art Scroll as well as ...
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2answers
203 views
What can a shul do with unusable Torah scrolls?
Our shul has about 15 unusable Torah scrolls. (To place it in a positive light, we have 6 that are usable. The shul has been in existence for 90 years, and we retrieved a number of "Holocaust" scrolls ...
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3answers
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Would a woman be permitted to write a sefer Torah?
Would a woman be permitted to write a sefer Torah? I understand that it is not done (at least in Orthodox circles), but would doing so violate any halacha? What about the general catch-all of kevod ...
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1answer
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Parshas HaGet used as a Get?
Tosfos in מסכת גיטין (Tosfos 20A "אי''... Tosfos 24A "כל הגט") keeps on repeating the concept of using a Sefer Torah for גירושין...
Tosfos uses phrases such as... "ספר תורה דלא איכתוב לשם גירושין ...
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0answers
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What qualities should one seek in Sefer Torah parchment and ink?
As a "seasoned" Torah reader, I've become interested in some aspects of Safrut.
Our shul has existed for many decades, and we have accumulated many Sifrei Torah. We recently had a sofer evaluate ...
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1answer
41 views
Why should a Sefer Torah be obligated in Shaatnez?
Says the Mishnah, Kilayim 9:3:
מִטְפְּחוֹת הַיָּדַיִם, מִטְפְּחוֹת הַסְּפָרִים, מִטְפְּחוֹת הַסַּפָּג, אֵין בָּהֶם מִשּׁוּם כִּלְאָיִם. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹסֵר.
Hand towels, covers for Sifrei ...
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1answer
75 views
closing ark before gadlu, weekday Torah service
I was taught that in the weekday Torah service, the ark is closed as soon as the Sefer Torah is removed, so that when we bow for gadlu lashem iti, it is clear we are bowing to Hashem and not to the ...
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1answer
45 views
format in the Torah of the sukkot korbanot at the end of pinchas
At the end of parshat Pinchas, the korbanot for sukkot are mentioned, and since there is a slight difference between each day, they are repeated eight times. My issue is that if you look at the way it ...
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1answer
110 views
Are all Vavei Ha'amudim Sifre Torah created today, identical?
There is a standardized format of writing Torah scrolls called Vavei Ha'amudim. The concept is that the majority of columns in the Torah (except for 6 places) should start with the letter vav.
This ...
3
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1answer
83 views
Tips for sitting holding a Sefer Torah without hurting your shoulder?
I'm occasionally asked in shul to take out the second Sefer Torah, which also involves holding it until it's needed. I usually sit holding it with one eitz chayim resting on the chair between my legs,...
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0answers
49 views
What is the spiritual significance that the Sefer Torah is in a Scroll format?
I have read the Q&A at: Why does the Torah have to be in a scroll format
But what I am looking for in this question is something that goes beyond the purely legal and technical (halachic) reasons ...
6
votes
1answer
52 views
May one place letters under one another as long as there is a space between them?
Soferim 2:2 rules that one must put a line-width space between lines, a letter-width space between words, and a hair-width space between letters.
Certain letters leave much space beneath them, and ...
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0answers
58 views
Kissing a doubtful scroll
There is a common custom to kiss a mezuzah, or at least place one's hand on it. Likewise, there is a custom to kiss Tefillin during davening and to kiss the Torah
Should one kiss these objects if he ...
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2answers
399 views
May one write with a pencil or marker in the margins of a sefer Torah?
As a Ba'al Kri'ah (Torah reader), I sometimes find it difficult to locate the start of an aliyah (reading) on Shabbat, esp. in parshiot Vayetze and Miketz where both of these are one contiguous parsha ...
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0answers
75 views
Pictures in the Torah
Why are there no pictures in the Torah? It spends so much time talking about the many different events that occurred, but a picture would (possibly) provide a better (or at least other) insight into ...
6
votes
1answer
161 views
Must the spacing between words in a written Torah be consistent?
I'm asking this question with some emphasis on the beginning of parshat Vayechi.
Most chumashim that I have seen have a notation that unlike the end of every other weekly Torah reading that has a ...
2
votes
1answer
103 views
Can a stolen sefer Torah be used?
If a shul buys a sefer Torah that turns out to be stolen, what happens?
May they continue using it? Are they yotzei on the readings they've performed in the past?
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2answers
159 views
Is there any particular standard recension/variation of the masoretic tradition that scribes use for torah scrolls in shul?
I don't know if i'm entirely correct in this, but I understand that there have in the past been variations in malai and chaser, throughout both the ashkenazi and sephardi world..
And then there was ...
9
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1answer
175 views
When and how did Chet get its STaM easy-to-differentiate-from-Hay form?
I have been looking at photos of old (pre-1300'sCE) Torah scroll fragments, most notably the Song of The Sea pictures of the 700-800CE Ashkar-Gilson fragment and the 1150-1225CE Bologna complete ...
4
votes
1answer
483 views
Why do Torah scrolls not have vowels or Trope?
Why do Torah scrolls not have vowels or Trope, thus forcing the reader to memorize both?
Is there a historical or Halachic reason for this?
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1answer
95 views
May one read from a Torah that has uneven parchment?
This morning, while I was reading from the Torah, someone in my shul noticed that the parchment was not cut evenly (in a straight line). I.e., the bottom piece of parchment seemed to have torn away. ...
