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(continued)
B. An authentic Torah scroll is a mind-boggling masterpiece of manual labor. Comprising 62 to 84 sheets of parchment cured, tanned, scraped and prepared to exacting Halachic specifications and containing exactly 304,805 letters, the resulting handwritten scroll takes six to 12 months to complete. Each letter is rigorously inked with a feather quill under the grueling calligraphic guidelines of Ktav Ashurit (Ashurite Script). While most Torah scrolls are around two feet in height and weigh at least 20 pounds, some are huge and heavy, while others are doll-sized, lightweight and compact-lettered.
C. Writing a Torah scroll is Positive Mitzvah #181, and is every Jewish male’s duty. Since most of us have neither the time, patience and piety nor the intimate knowledge of the hundreds (yes, hundreds) of Halachot involved in writing a Sefer Torah, we hire a Sofer (ritual scribe) to write one for us. However, since that costs a fortune, too (a five-digit minimum), most of us just chip in when a new Sefer Torah’s being written, contributing a small amount to help cover costs and symbolically purchase a share in the Torah’s ownership. (Click here to purchase a letter in the first ever Torah Scroll being written for the online Jewish community).
“This is the Torah that Moses set before the Jewish people...”. We mean it, almost literally: this scroll.
1. Life—ListedA Torah Scroll is the quintessential, core representation of Judaism itself. It is the tangible embodiment of our connection to G-d and of His wisdom and guidance. It is the heart, mind and soul of Judaism, right there in front of you in writing. The original hard copy.
The first Sefer Torah in history was dictated by G-d verbatim and written by Moses, just before his passing. In his parting words, he told them to listen to the words found in that scroll and to reference them in response to life's questions. They taught their children to do the same, and that's how we've kept its tradition until this day.
Torah is to the soul what water is to the body: you can’t go more than three days without water, and your soul cannot go more than three days without Torah.
2. How the Torah is readThe Torah is read in synagogue during Shacharit, after the Amidah services on Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Rosh Chodesh Jewish Holidays and Fast days. On Shabbat and Fast days the Torah is read during Minchah as well. (In some communities the Torah is also read on Simchat Torah night).
The Aron is opened and the Torah is removed while the congregation recites certain verses. The Torah is then carried to the Bimah, where its crown(s), velvet slipcover and other decorative ornaments are removed and respectfully placed aside, then rolled open and read in a special liturgical chant called Kriah. The reader chants his way through the specified sections, each accompanied by a services participant who is called up to stand beside the reader (and read along in an undertone when possible). When the reading’s done, the Torah is held high and displayed for all to see, then rolled up, re-covered in velvet and replaced in the Aron.
3. Read it and ReapTorah is to the soul what water is to the body: you can’t go more than three days without water, and your soul cannot go more than three days without Torah. Torah nourishes and replenishes your spiritual reservoir, which is constant getting drained by this material life. To maintain one’s spiritual level, Moses stipulated that the Torah be read in public on Mondays and Thursdays in addition to Shabbat and Holidays.3
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