After they are written, the sheets of the Torah are sewn together with gut from a kosher animal, but not before they are checked three times for mistakes, and repaired if necessary. Despite the best efforts of the expert scribe, checkers usually find a number of mistakes and problems requiring improvement or correction. In our time it has become common to substitute a check by computer for one of the human checks. The computer is better than human checkers at locating mistakes in the consonantal text--missing, garbled, or extra words--but it cannot substitute entirely for expert human inspectors (Magi'him), who also locate fine breaks and joins between letters and various other problems which the computer doesn't catch. The Jerusalem Scribe always includes a computer check automatically as one check of any new Sefer Torah we sell.
If you would like to order a new Torah, ready-made or written to your specifications, The Jerusalem Scribe can offer beautiful scrolls written by fine scribes. We can provide kosher Torah scrolls from about 6" in height (12 cm!) up to about 22" (56 cm). Click here for purchase information.
Old Torahs can also profit by being checked by computer. Experience indicates that there are unnoticed mistakes even in many Torah scrolls which have been read for long periods of time. While the halakha (Jewish law) does not require rechecking an old Torah which has presumably already been checked properly, a computer check is nonetheless recommended if the owners of the Torah can afford the expense.
Often Torah scrolls deteriorate and need to be repaired. Even a single broken or wrong letter in a Torah scroll renders it unfit for public reading. It is especially common for the fine lines of the script to crack, for entire letters or parts of letters to break off the parchment, or for the writing to fade until it no longer has any body. All of these problems can be dealt with if they are not too severe. The Jerusalem Scribe specializes in the repair and preservation of old scrolls, and we have developed unusual expertise in this area.
The Jerusalem Scribe also buys and sells old Torah scrolls. Coupled with our expertise in the repair of damaged and deteriorated scrolls, this means that we can offer you quality used Torah scrolls with a guarantee. Click here for purchase information.
Almost all Torah scrolls written today are produced in Israel. Scribes in the Diaspora work mostly at checking and repairs.
Jewish law does not require checking an old Torah scroll unless several mistakes or problems are found in it. If you have a Torah with problems, you can write to consult us.
If you like, you can write to us.
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