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 / …
Hi Mordechai,
ReplyDeleteThis appears to be a corruption of the Massorah in which there are lists that call for the MEM of VETIHARTIM in Nehemia 13:30 to be written small. You should also know that there are competing traditions which call for the TET of Vetihartim to be written small, instead.
Among some of the sources for the small MEM in Nehemia are the Machzor Vitry and Okhla ve Okhla. There are no massoretic sources for R. Yosef Tov Elem's assertion. As such, he may have just confused one for the other.
Shalom R. Alberto - thanks for your insight.
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcome.
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