12
votes
Why is a Torah written by a woman not considered a kosher Torah?
The Talmud (Gittin 45b) says:
תני רב המנונא בריה דרבא מפשרוניא ס"ת תפלין ומזוזות שכתבן אפיקורוס עובד כוכבים ועבד אשה וקטן וכותי וישראל מומר פסולין שנאמר וקשרתם וכתבתם כל שישנו בקשירה ישנו בכתיבה ...
- 97.3k
7
votes
Accepted
May one place letters under one another as long as there is a space between them?
According to the general psak it is not a psul, although not mehudar,
See מ'ב סימן לב ס'ק קיב
אם בתחלת הכתיבה ממשיך רגל התחתון של הנו”ן והצד”י וכותב האות הסמוכה לתוכה כגון פני או ארצי כשר כיון ...
- 234
6
votes
Accepted
When were the books and the text of the Torah settled?
As it happens, I'm now in the middle of reading a book called "Mevo Lekitvei Hakodesh" (Introduction to the Holy Scriptures) by Shmuel Shrira, which discusses the creation and canonization ...
- 24.8k
4
votes
The procedure of checking new scrolls against the Torah scroll in the Ark
Rambam states this in Hilchot Tefillin and Mezuzot 7:2 regarding the scrolls that a King writes:
"...This [King's] copy is corrected by comparison with a scroll kept in the temple court and ...
- 24.8k
4
votes
Chofetz Chaim's Advice to Son
This may be a reference to what his son writes in the first section of שיחות החפץ חיים דרכיו נמוקיו ושיחותיו מחיי אבא in #27:
לא ישר היה בעיניו דרכי בימי נעורי ששקעתי בעניני חסד ובעניני צבור לכונן ...
- 49.1k
3
votes
Accepted
Why do a sefer Torah's letters have to be black?
The midrash tanchuma below brings this posuk
shir hashirim 5.11
his locks are curled, [they are as] black as a raven
Rashi
black as a raven: All these are beauty for a young man
It seems that black ...
- 7,466
3
votes
Accepted
How is there Torah about Hebrew letters if the letters are not original?
The question is important and need to be asked.
The following answer is based on Jewish Tradition. The topic is treated in Gemara (Babylonian Talmud) Sanhedrin in which we find three opinions.
The ...
- 22.7k
2
votes
Why cant a Sefer torah be written by a machine
Rambam list some things which would not give a Torah Scroll not a drop of sanctity and would be like a printed book:
If someone who wrote it is an Apikores or any other type of prohibited person.
If ...
- 479
2
votes
Accepted
Is there a Jewish reason not to take notes when studying?
The Rambam writes in the Introduction to Mishne Torah:
רבינו הקדוש חיבר המשנה. ומימות משה רבינו ועד רבינו הקדוש לא חיברו חבור שמלמדין אותו ברבים בתורה שבעל פה. אלא בכל דור ודור ראש בית דין או נביא ...
- 31.8k
2
votes
Is one permitted to change one of Hashem’s names to another in writing?
The Minchas Chinuch (437) that erasing some letters of a Divine Name is forbidden even if the remainder constitutes a different Divine Name.
ומבואר בר"מ דהמוחק אות אחת משמות אלו לוקין. ופשוט ל&...
- 7,871
1
vote
Writing a commentary on Chumash using Microsoft Word
You could insert a table and then remove the borders from the table. That way, you won't see the table-borders, but you can still write within that table, and now you have invisible lines that guide ...
- 8,697
1
vote
Accepted
Is one permitted to change one of Hashem’s names to another in writing?
Although I don’t have an exact source for this question, I found the reverse case that is discussed and this case can be inferred from that.
If someone wrote Elokim and wants to erase part of it to ...
- 10.6k
1
vote
Are there books or training exercises that scribes use to strengthen their skills?
You can get ready made training sets which often include instruction manuals - for example here
You might also want to explore a sofrus supplies shop which often have a great deal of books and ...
- 30.1k
1
vote
How is there Torah about Hebrew letters if the letters are not original?
If you have access to Margolios Hayam on Sanhedrin, see on daf 21b starting from #37 onward.
He brings many opinons from Rishonim that even according to the opinion that the Torahwas given in ksav ...
- 33.4k
1
vote
How is there Torah about Hebrew letters if the letters are not original?
The best brief answer can be found from Rabbi David Sperling from Yeshivah.org in Israel.
Question:
If Ktav Ashurit was not introduced until Ezra, what Ktav was the Torah given in? Also, how can ...
- 14.2k
1
vote
Accepted
Writing in Traditional Ksav Ashuris (Sofer Script)
This site offers some general ideas on where to find lessosn and books, etc. as well as equipment suggestions. The site recommends Izzy Pludwinski’s Mastering Hebrew Calligraphy as a starter as well ...
- 70k
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