SOFER ON SITE INTERNATIONAL Torah is the prized inheritance of the Jewish people. It moves, motivates, and unites us as a nation. For 3,000 years we have learned to live our lives through the teachings, guidance and message of Torah. We search for new ways to bring ourselves closer to it. At Sofer On Site , we are honored to provide beautiful STa’M of the highest Halachic standards, while bringing Torah’s timeless lessons to you, and inspiring generations to come. Ready for a Sofer On Site experience? Call us today!
BUSINESS HOURS Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Weekend & Jewish Holidays: Closed
CONTACT INFO Address: 991 North Miami Beach Blvd. N. Miami Beach, FL 33162 Phone: 305-770-3481 Fax: 305-770-4204 Email: info@soferonsite.com For updates, sales, news and other exciting opportunities follow us on Social Media. Want us to get back to you? Click Here
Torah Facts 27,060* 16,345 2,109 7,032 28,055 30,513 2,198 א ב ג ד ה ו ז 7,189 1,804 31,531 8,610 3,358 21,570 14,466 ח ט י כ ך ל מ 10,624 9,867 4,259 1,833 11,250 3,975 830 ם נ ן ס ע פ ף 2,927 1,035 4,695 18,125 15,595 17,950 304,805 צ ץ ק ר ש ת TOTAL “And now you shall write this song...” The Torah is G-d's gift to the Jewish People. The last and final Mitzvah of the Torah is a unique expression of G-d’s Divinity in this world. There is a commandment upon each and every Jew to write this ‘Song’ – the Torah, for themselves. Since the time of it’s giving, a Sofer has completed this sacred task of writing Sifrei Torah for the Jewish nation. A skilled and trained scribe who is a G-d fearing Jew may write a Sefer Torah. Jewish law is very specific about what makes a Torah kosher. In fact, every step in the creation of a new scroll has to be made with one purpose in mind – Leshem Mitzvat Torah and only with these thoughts will the Torah take on its role as a G-dly vehicle for G-d’s wisdom in this world. By writing a new Torah we proclaim the everlasting and eternal connection we share with our creator. Although, we are always very careful about proper handling a Sefer Torah and treating it with respect, over time even the best scrolls can become pasul-unfit for ritual use. A Sofer can carefully examine the scroll to determine the extent of repair needed. Facts & Insights Hundreds of laws govern the most minute details of writing a Sefer Torah, from the materials used to the actual writing. It takes an expert scribe anywhere from a fast 8 months to over a year, in writing a complete, single Torah scroll. This will depend however on many factors. There are three basic scripts used today: Beit Yosef – Used primarily by Ashkenazi Jews Ariza’l – Used primarily by Chassidic Jews Vellish – Used primarily by Sephardi Jews Beit Yosef and Ari scripts are similar, differing only in the form of 6 letters. Vellish is generally a more rounded style of lettering than the Ashkenazi script and can be written more quickly. All three scripts themselves can have some additional variation, such as some Sephardic and Lubavitch Chassidim. Some scribes use a reed pen, others use a feather quill. After they are written, the sheets of the Torah are sewn together with gut from a kosher animal, but not before they are checked three times for mistakes, and repaired if necessary. With the advent of technology, the computer is now utilized as well. A computer scan of the entire Sefer Torah is accomplished. The computer is better than human checkers at locating mistakes in the consonantal text – missing, garbled, or extra words – but it can’t substitute entirely for expert human checkers, who are able to verify accurate letter shaping, can locate fine breaks and joins between letters and various other problems which a computer can’t catch. By The Numbers There are 304,805 letters in a Sefer Torah * Calculation is using the spelling of the word אכד with an א instead of a ה, as per the ruling of Mishnas Avraham (Siman 32) and many others, as well as numerous ancient codex sources. By The Letters In addition to the 22 Hebrew letters (and the 5 final letters) there are selected letters that are written differently than the rest. Some are larger, smaller and even written up-side-down! Larger Letters According to tradition there are 16 large letters in the Torah, but there was never full agreement on these. Since the reason for these different sized letters is embedded in ancient Jewish tradition, most Torahs and texts today don't make reference to the full 16 and are usually only found only in older Sephardi and Czech Kabbalistic scrolls. An example of large letters are the Ayin and Dalet of the words Shema and Echad respectively in Deut 6:4 ‘Hear O Israel the Lord is our God, the Lord is one’. One of the many explanations is that we enlarge those letters to ensure that they are read properly. If the word “עמש - Shema” would be read with an א - which sounds very similar to the ע - the meaning of the word would change from "עמש = hear" to "אמש = maybe,". This would be exchanging a firm declaration of belief into an expression of doubt. Similarly, if the dalet ד of the word “דחא - echad” would be mistaken for a resh ר – as the two look almost identical - the 'echad' (one) would be read 'acher' (other). This would make our belief in one G-d look like a belief in two gods. Another explanation the commentaries bring is these two letters together spell דע (eid), the Hebrew word for witness. When we recite the Shema, we attest to His Oneness. This reflects the words of Isaiah (43:10), "You are my witnesses…" The simple explanation given to the large vav in gachon (Lev 11:42) 'whatsoever goeth upon its belly' is that it is the exact centre of the Sefer Torah in letters, and thus is in the belly large vav of the Torah. However this is difficult to calculate as the exact number of letters in a Torah has changed over time and even the Talmud reports discrepancies between the Temple’s Torah scrolls which had to be reconciled by agreement. Others say that this is the middle letter of the large letters themselves. In addition, Kashrut is discussed in this section - i.e. matters which concern our bellies! A complete list of all large letters that appear in Torah together with samples and explanations of why they are to be written large and where they are to be found is available upon request.
By the Columns The Torah is divided into 245 columns. Bereisheet - 60 Shmos - 50 Vayikra - 38 Bamidbar - 52 Devarim - 45 Total = 245
By the Book There are 5 books in Torah: Bereisheet (Genesis) 78,064 letters Shmos (Exodus) 63,529 letters Vayikra (Leviticus) 44,790 letters Bamidbar (Numbers) 63,530 letters Devarim (Deuteronomy) 54,892 letters Total = 304,805
By the Verse Each book is divided into pesukim/sentences or verses: Bereisheet - 1,533 Shmos - 1,210 Vayikra - 859 Bamidbar - 1,288 Devarim - 956 Total = 5,846
Education
Torah Facts
Torah Facts “And now you shall write this song...” The Torah is G-d's gift to the Jewish People. The last and final Mitzvah of the Torah is a unique expression of G-d’s Divinity in this world. There is a commandment upon each and every Jew to write this ‘Song’ – the Torah, for themselves. Since the time of it’s giving, a Sofer has completed this sacred task of writing Sifrei Torah for the Jewish nation. A skilled and trained scribe who is a G-d fearing Jew may write a Sefer Torah. Jewish law is very specific about what makes a Torah kosher. In fact, every step in the creation of a new scroll has to be made with one purpose in mind – Leshem Mitzvat Torah and only with these thoughts will the Torah take on its role as a G-dly vehicle for G-d’s wisdom in this world. By writing a new Torah we proclaim the everlasting and eternal connection we share with our creator. Although, we are always very careful about proper handling a Sefer Torah and treating it with respect, over time even the best scrolls can become pasul-unfit for ritual use. A Sofer can carefully examine the scroll to determine the extent of repair needed. Facts & Insights Hundreds of laws govern the most minute details of writing a Sefer Torah, from the materials used to the actual writing. It takes an expert scribe anywhere from a fast 8 months to over a year, in writing a complete, single Torah scroll. This will depend however on many factors. There are three basic scripts used today: Beit Yosef – Used primarily by Ashkenazi Jews Ariza’l – Used primarily by Chassidic Jews Vellish – Used primarily by Sephardi Jews Beit Yosef and Ari scripts are similar, differing only in the form of 6 letters. Vellish is generally a more rounded style of lettering than the Ashkenazi script and can be written more quickly. All three scripts themselves can have some additional variation, such as some Sephardic and Lubavitch Chassidim. Some scribes use a reed pen, others use a feather quill. After they are written, the sheets of the Torah are sewn together with gut from a kosher animal, but not before they are checked three times for mistakes, and repaired if necessary. With the advent of technology, the computer is now utilized as well. A computer scan of the entire Sefer Torah is accomplished. The computer is better than human checkers at locating mistakes in the consonantal text – missing, garbled, or extra words – but it can’t substitute entirely for expert human checkers, who are able to verify accurate letter shaping, can locate fine breaks and joins between letters and various other problems which a computer can’t catch. By The Numbers There are 304,805 letters in a Sefer Torah * Calculation is using the spelling of the word tŠF©S with an t instead of a v, as per the ruling of Mishnas Avraham (Siman 32) and many others, as well as numerous ancient codex sources. By The Letters In addition to the 22 Hebrew letters (and the 5 final letters) there are selected letters that are written differently than the rest. Some are larger, smaller and even written up-side-down! Larger Letters According to tradition there are 16 large letters in the Torah, but there was never full agreement on these. Since the reason for these different sized letters is embedded in ancient Jewish tradition, most Torahs and texts today don't make reference to the full 16 and are usually only found only in older Sephardi and Czech Kabbalistic scrolls. An example of large letters are the Ayin and Dalet of the words Shema and Echad respectively in Deut 6:4 ‘Hear O Israel the Lord is our God, the Lord is one’. One of the many explanations is that we enlarge those letters to ensure that they are read properly. If the word “עמש - Shema” would be read with an א - which sounds very similar to the ע - the meaning of the word would change from "עמש = hear" to "אמש = maybe,". This would be exchanging a firm declaration of belief into an expression of doubt. Similarly, if the dalet ד of the word “דחא - echad” would be mistaken for a resh ר – as the two look almost identical - the 'echad' (one) would be read 'acher' (other). This would make our belief in one G-d look like a belief in two gods. Another explanation the commentaries bring is these two letters together spell דע (eid), the Hebrew word for witness. When we recite the Shema, we attest to His Oneness. This reflects the words of Isaiah (43:10), "You are my witnesses…" The simple explanation given to the large vav in gachon (Lev 11:42) 'whatsoever goeth upon its belly' is that it is the exact centre of the Sefer Torah in letters, and thus is in the belly large vav of the Torah. However this is difficult to calculate as the exact number of letters in a Torah has changed over time and even the Talmud reports discrepancies between the Temple’s Torah scrolls which had to be reconciled by agreement. Others say that this is the middle letter of the large letters themselves. In addition, Kashrut is discussed in this section - i.e. matters which concern our bellies! A complete list of all large letters that appear in Torah together with samples and explanations of why they are to be written large and where they are to be found is available upon request. 27,060* 16,345 2,109 7,032 28,055 30,513 2,198 א ב ג ד ה ו ז 7,189 1,804 31,531 8,610 3,358 21,570 14,466 ח ט י כ ך ל מ 10,624 9,867 4,259 1,833 11,250 3,975 830 ם נ ן ס ע פ ף 2,927 1,035 4,695 18,125 15,595 17,950 304,805 צ ץ ק ר ש ת TOTAL
By the Columns The Torah is divided into 245 columns. Bereisheet - 60 Shmos - 50 Vayikra - 38 Bamidbar - 52 Devarim - 45 Total = 245
By the Book There are 5 books in Torah: Bereisheet (Genesis) 78,064 letters Shmos (Exodus) 63,529 letters Vayikra (Leviticus) 44,790 letters Bamidbar (Numbers) 63,530 letters Devarim (Deuteronomy) 54,892 letters Total = 304,805
By the Verse Each book is divided into pesukim/sentences or verses: Bereisheet - 1,533 Shmos - 1,210 Vayikra - 859 Bamidbar - 1,288 Devarim - 956 Total = 5,846
Education
Torah Facts
SOFER ON SITE INTERNATIONAL Torah is the prized inheritance of the Jewish people. It moves, motivates, and unites us as a nation. For 3,000 years we have learned to live our lives through the teachings, guidance and message of Torah. We search for new ways to bring ourselves closer to it. At Sofer On Site , we are honored to provide beautiful STa’M of the highest Halachic standards, while bringing Torah’s timeless lessons to you, and inspiring generations to come. Ready for a Sofer On Site experience? Call us today!
BUSINESS HOURS Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Weekend & Jewish Holidays: Closed
CONTACT INFO Address: 991 North Miami Beach Blvd. N. Miami Beach, FL 33162 Phone: 305-770-3481 Fax: 305-770-4204 Email: info@soferonsite.com For updates, sales, news and other exciting opportunities follow us on Social Media. Want us to get back to you? Click Here
Torah Facts 27,060* 16,345 2,109 7,032 28,055 30,513 2,198 א ב ג ד ה ו ז 7,189 1,804 31,531 8,610 3,358 21,570 14,466 ח ט י כ ך ל מ 10,624 9,867 4,259 1,833 11,250 3,975 830 ם נ ן ס ע פ ף 2,927 1,035 4,695 18,125 15,595 17,950 304,805 צ ץ ק ר ש ת TOTAL “And now you shall write this song...” The Torah is G-d's gift to the Jewish People. The last and final Mitzvah of the Torah is a unique expression of G-d’s Divinity in this world. There is a commandment upon each and every Jew to write this ‘Song’ – the Torah, for themselves. Since the time of it’s giving, a Sofer has completed this sacred task of writing Sifrei Torah for the Jewish nation. A skilled and trained scribe who is a G-d fearing Jew may write a Sefer Torah. Jewish law is very specific about what makes a Torah kosher. In fact, every step in the creation of a new scroll has to be made with one purpose in mind – Leshem Mitzvat Torah and only with these thoughts will the Torah take on its role as a G-dly vehicle for G-d’s wisdom in this world. By writing a new Torah we proclaim the everlasting and eternal connection we share with our creator. Although, we are always very careful about proper handling a Sefer Torah and treating it with respect, over time even the best scrolls can become pasul-unfit for ritual use. A Sofer can carefully examine the scroll to determine the extent of repair needed. Facts & Insights Hundreds of laws govern the most minute details of writing a Sefer Torah, from the materials used to the actual writing. It takes an expert scribe anywhere from a fast 8 months to over a year, in writing a complete, single Torah scroll. This will depend however on many factors. There are three basic scripts used today: Beit Yosef – Used primarily by Ashkenazi Jews Ariza’l – Used primarily by Chassidic Jews Vellish – Used primarily by Sephardi Jews Beit Yosef and Ari scripts are similar, differing only in the form of 6 letters. Vellish is generally a more rounded style of lettering than the Ashkenazi script and can be written more quickly. All three scripts themselves can have some additional variation, such as some Sephardic and Lubavitch Chassidim. Some scribes use a reed pen, others use a feather quill. After they are written, the sheets of the Torah are sewn together with gut from a kosher animal, but not before they are checked three times for mistakes, and repaired if necessary. With the advent of technology, the computer is now utilized as well. A computer scan of the entire Sefer Torah is accomplished. The computer is better than human checkers at locating mistakes in the consonantal text – missing, garbled, or extra words – but it can’t substitute entirely for expert human checkers, who are able to verify accurate letter shaping, can locate fine breaks and joins between letters and various other problems which a computer can’t catch. By The Numbers There are 304,805 letters in a Sefer Torah * Calculation is using the spelling of the word tŠF©S with an t instead of a v, as per the ruling of Mishnas Avraham (Siman 32) and many others, as well as numerous ancient codex sources. By The Letters In addition to the 22 Hebrew letters (and the 5 final letters) there are selected letters that are written differently than the rest. Some are larger, smaller and even written up-side-down! Larger Letters According to tradition there are 16 large letters in the Torah, but there was never full agreement on these. Since the reason for these different sized letters is embedded in ancient Jewish tradition, most Torahs and texts today don't make reference to the full 16 and are usually only found only in older Sephardi and Czech Kabbalistic scrolls. An example of large letters are the Ayin and Dalet of the words Shema and Echad respectively in Deut 6:4 ‘Hear O Israel the Lord is our God, the Lord is one’. One of the many explanations is that we enlarge those letters to ensure that they are read properly. If the word “עמש - Shema” would be read with an א - which sounds very similar to the ע - the meaning of the word would change from "עמש = hear" to "אמש = maybe,". This would be exchanging a firm declaration of belief into an expression of doubt. Similarly, if the dalet ד of the word “דחא - echad” would be mistaken for a resh ר – as the two look almost identical - the 'echad' (one) would be read 'acher' (other). This would make our belief in one G-d look like a belief in two gods. Another explanation the commentaries bring is these two letters together spell דע (eid), the Hebrew word for witness. When we recite the Shema, we attest to His Oneness. This reflects the words of Isaiah (43:10), "You are my witnesses…" The simple explanation given to the large vav in gachon (Lev 11:42) 'whatsoever goeth upon its belly' is that it is the exact centre of the Sefer Torah in letters, and thus is in the belly large vav of the Torah. However this is difficult to calculate as the exact number of letters in a Torah has changed over time and even the Talmud reports discrepancies between the Temple’s Torah scrolls which had to be reconciled by agreement. Others say that this is the middle letter of the large letters themselves. In addition, Kashrut is discussed in this section - i.e. matters which concern our bellies! A complete list of all large letters that appear in Torah together with samples and explanations of why they are to be written large and where they are to be found is available upon request.
By the Columns The Torah is divided into 245 columns. Bereisheet - 60 Shmos - 50 Vayikra - 38 Bamidbar - 52 Devarim - 45 Total = 245
By the Book There are 5 books in Torah: Bereisheet (Genesis) 78,064 letters Shmos (Exodus) 63,529 letters Vayikra (Leviticus) 44,790 letters Bamidbar (Numbers) 63,530 letters Devarim (Deuteronomy) 54,892 letters Total = 304,805
By the Verse Each book is divided into pesukim/sentences or verses: Bereisheet - 1,533 Shmos - 1,210 Vayikra - 859 Bamidbar - 1,288 Devarim - 956 Total = 5,846
Torah Facts
SOFER ON SITE INTERNATIONAL Torah is the prized inheritance of the Jewish people. It moves, motivates, and unites us as a nation. For 3,000 years we have learned to live our lives through the teachings, guidance and message of Torah. We search for new ways to bring ourselves closer to it. At Sofer On Site , we are honored to provide beautiful STa’M of the highest Halachic standards, while bringing Torah’s timeless lessons to you, and inspiring generations to come. Ready for a Sofer On Site experience? Call us today!
BUSINESS HOURS Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Weekend & Jewish Holidays: Closed
CONTACT INFO Address: 991 North Miami Beach Blvd. N. Miami Beach, FL 33162 Phone: 305-770-3481 Fax: 305-770-4204 Email: info@soferonsite.com For updates, sales, news and other exciting opportunities follow us on Social Media. Want us to get back to you? Click Here
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