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 / …
I agree with rule 1
ReplyDeletehere is rule 2: never store your megila in your silver case your wife or cleaning lady will polish it and damage the megila.I am forever fixing water damaged megilos
Rule 3: You wouldn't open the side panel of your computer anywhere near uncovered liquid. Don't weigh your megilla down with full water glasses. Worse, don't weigh my megillah down with full water glasses.
DeleteSimilar Azharos for covering Sifrei Torah with plastic bags under the Mantell before dancing on Simchas Torah. I've had to do extensive fixing for sweat-damaged otherwise-beautiful Sifrei Torah.
ReplyDeleteIn many Sephardic communities, the Reader for the Congregation does not unroll the entire Megilah prior to reading. Rather, he unrolls the Megillah as he is reading it and leaves it unrolled. Once he is done with the reading, he then rolls-up the Megillah and recites the Berakhah.
ReplyDeleteUnlike the reader, the congregants do not leave their Megillot open as they read. Rather, they roll it as they go, just like a Sefer Torah so that it won’t fall on the floor or be subject to damage by folding.
More so, unrolling the entire Megillah prior to reading is seen as improper. According to their sources, one should only leave what was already read unrolled, like a letter; but what was not yet read, is supposed to remain rolled like a Sefer Torah.
Another reason to use Dio Lanetzach.
ReplyDelete