This video shows a sofer writing a sefer Torah. This sofer has a good hand, writes at a nice pace, and can ask a decent price. But one can also tell how the sefer Torah industry has commercialised the process, allowing for better productivity.
Note the following:
1) The sofer is writing on a light table, which means he does not have to worry about planning the spacing and can just trace over the letters. This saves a lot of time. This also minimises mistakes and saves time of repairs.
2) The quill is a plastic kulmos with a repository, which means you need to dip it into the ink every few lines instead of every few letters. Also you do not need to sharpen it and make new quills. Both of these save time.
3) The klaf today is more refined and smooth, easier to write on. Not uneven and rough like the old days. I'm sure lots of "mei klaf" is added. This enhances writing speed and quality of writing.
4) Double sirtut. Again this enhances quality and neatness.
5) The tagin / …
Nachman,the sad truth is that as soon as you start mass producing stam, it is hard to guarantee that everything is 100%
ReplyDeleteI personally check all mezuzos and parshiyos I sell. and I send a lot of stuff back, even if it is still kosher. If I started relying on other people I feel I would no longer be abe to quality control properly. Sure, I would sell more but it would only then be a matter of time until I would start to receive complaints and critcisim.
The rabbanim who give hechsherim know that in all probability the itmes they sell will be scrutinized by another sofer within a few years. when mistakes occur, and they usually do in mass production, they will get a bad rap.
In food production, no external examinations occur. so if a mistake happens they can cover up or find left field hetairim. No angry consumer will come knocking on their door 3 years later holding a parsha with a negiya, blaming all their life's ills on their incompetence.
yes eli you are correct however when i started selling i asked mishmeres stam why they will not give a hechsher-THE REPLY "SINCE THE KLAF HAS NO HASHGACHA WE CANNOT GIVE A HECHSHER"
ReplyDeleteBut now that most KLAF factories do have a HECHSHER why can't MISHMERES STa"M give a HECHSHER on MEZUZOS, PARSHIYOS ect.
ReplyDeleteI will refer the question to Rabbi Greenfeld from Vaad Mishmeres STa"M
ReplyDeletewhat would be the ideal hechsher
ReplyDeletewould the hechsher be including haga or a hechsher on the klaf sofer-has kabala etc still leaving the haga to the sofer -socher
Maybe both options with different color stickers.
ReplyDeleteWhat colors do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteGreen for Greenfeld
ReplyDelete