Sofer

uses2 For the talmudic tractate, see Soferim (Talmud) . A Sofer finishing the final letters of a Torah scroll A Sofer , Sofer STaM , or Sofer ST"M ( Heb: "scribe", סופר סת”ם , pl. "Soferet," where ST"M is an abbreviation for Sefer Torahs , Tefillin , and Mezuzot ) is a Jewish scribe who can transcribe Torah scrolls and other religious writings such as those used in Tefillin and Mezuzot . By simple definition, a sofer is a copyist , but in their religious role in Judaism they are much more. Besides Torah scrolls , Tefillin , and Mezuzot , scribes are also necessary for the writing of Megillot (scrolls of the Song of Songs , Book of Ruth , Book of Esther , Ecclesiastes , and Book of Lamentations ), Nevi'im (the books of the prophets, used for reading the haftarah ), and for Gittin - divorce documents. Also many scribes function as calligraphers — writing functional documents such as marriage contracts , or ornamental and artistic renditions of religious texts — which do not require any scribal qualifications, and to which the rules on lettering and parchment specifications do not apply. The major Jewish law ( Halakha ) pertaining to " Sofrut ," the practice of scribal arts, is in the Talmud in the tractate Maseket Sofrim . In the Torah 's 613 Mitzvot (commandments) the 613th is that every male should write a Sefer Torah in his lifetime.( Deut. 31:19 ) 82nd of the 613 mitzvot as enumerated by Rashi , and the final as it occurs in the text of the Torah, in Deuteronomy 31:19

A sofer finishing the final letters of a sefer Torah A sofer , sopher , sofer SeTaM , or sofer ST"M ( Heb: "scribe", ; plural of sofer is soferim ; female: soferet ) is a Jewish scribe who can transcribe sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls), tefillin (phylacteries), and mezuzot ( ST"M , , is an abbreviation of these three terms), of the Five Megillot and other religious writings. By simple definition, a sofer is a copyist , but the religious role in Judaism is much more. Besides sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzot, scribes are necessary to write the Five Megillot (scrolls of the Song of Songs , Book of Ruth , Book of Esther , Ecclesiastes , and Book of Lamentations ), Nevi'im (the books of the prophets, used for reading the haftarah ), and for gittin , divorce documents. Also, many scribes function as calligraphers—writing functional documents such as ketubot "marriage contracts", or ornamental and artistic renditions of religious texts, which do not require any scribal qualifications, and to which the rules on lettering and parchment specifications do not apply. The major halakha pertaining to sofrut , the practice of scribal arts, is in the Talmud in the tractate " Maseket Sofrim ". In the Torah's 613 commandments , the second to last is that every Jew should write a sefer Torah in his lifetime ( Deuteronomy 31:19 ). 82nd of the 613 commandments as enumerated by Rashi , and the second to final as it occurs in the text of the Torah, Book of Deuteronomy 31:19, the final being in Deuteronomy 32:38

Jewish scribe For other uses, see Sofer (disambiguation) . A sofer at work, Ein Bokek , Israel A Middle Eastern sofer sews together the pieces of parchment A sofer , sopher , sofer SeTaM , or sofer ST"M ( , "scribe"; plural of sofer is soferim , סופרים ) is a Jewish scribe who can transcribe Sifrei Kodesh (holy scrolls), tefillin (phylacteries), mezuzot ( ST"M , סת״ם , is an abbreviation of these three terms) and other religious writings. By simple definition, soferim are copyists , but their religious role in Judaism is much more. Besides sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzot, scribes are necessary to write the Five Megillot (scrolls of the Song of Songs , Book of Ruth , Book of Esther , Ecclesiastes , and Book of Lamentations ), Nevi'im (the books of the prophets, used for reading the haftarah ), and for gittin , divorce documents. Many scribes also function as calligraphers—writing functional documents such as ketubot (marriage contracts), or ornamental and artistic renditions of religious texts, which do not require any scribal qualifications, and to which the rules on lettering and parchment specifications do not apply. The major halakha pertaining to sofrut , the practice of scribal arts, is in the Talmud in the tractate " Maseket Sofrim ". In the Torah's 613 commandments , the second to last is that every Jew should write a sefer Torah before they die. 82nd of the 613 commandments as enumerated by Rashi , and the second to final as it occurs in the text of the Torah, Book of Deuteronomy 31:19, the final being in Deuteronomy 32:38 Deuteronomy 31:19

Jewish scribe For the talmudic tractate, see Soferim (Talmud) . A sofer at work, Ein Bokek , Israel A sofer sews together the pieces of parchment A sofer , sopher , sofer SeTaM , or sofer ST"M ( Hebrew : סופר סת״ם , "scribe"; plural soferim , סופרים ) is a Jewish scribe who can transcribe Sifrei Kodesh (holy scrolls), tefillin (phylacteries), mezuzot ( ST"M , סת״ם , is an abbreviation of these three terms) and other religious writings.