The Sefer Torah

Chakam-Yadah

Messianic Homeschool.Net
Sefer Torah
By Tirzah S. Luczynski

Although Archeologists and Historians have learned many

things by studying fossils and the ruins of ancient
civilizations, there is no other reliable written record of
Creation. There are also many things that we would not
know about mankind or the world around us if we did not
have the Torah.

The Torah is the most revered part of the Jewish Bible. It is

special because it is not only G-d’s Word, it was written by Moshe Rabaynu
(Moses our Teacher). The Torah not only tells us how we can live for HaShem,
we can also learn about the History of some of our earliest ancestors.

How was the Torah passed down to

us today?
You may already be familiar with the English
names of the five books of Torah; Genesis,
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
These do not come from the original Hebrew
language. These are names that come from the
old Latin language. Latin was a common
language used by the Roman people and all over
the world for several hundred years. Many
English words come from the Latin language. However, the best way to read
and properly understand the Torah is to read it in the original Hebrew language.
This is why learning Hebrew is a very important part of a good Jewish Education.

The original Hebrew names of the books of the Torah are taken from the first
noun or verb in each of the books. Both Jews and Christians believe that
HaShem wrote the Torah and gave it to Moshe to give to the people of Israel.
 The Five Books of Torah

English Name | Meaning | Hebrew Name | Meaning

1. Genesis Creation B’resheet The beginning

2. Exodus Leaving Sh’mot Names
3. Leviticus For the Priests VaYikra And He Called
4. Numbers Numbers B’Midbar The Wilderness
5. Deuteronomy Law D’Varim The Words

The First Written Record of the Torah

The First scriptures were not written in the customary way we
make books today. The first Torah was written in Hebrew and on
scrolls made from the skin of kosher animals. The very first scroll
of the Torah Moshe wrote for us did not survive through the ages, but we do
have copies of it.

The Torah has been copied many, many times over thousands of years and
always by hand. You might think that because the Torah has been copied so
many times, and in this way that there might be mistakes. You might wonder if
the Torah we read today is the same as the one Moshe originally wrote.

One of the most unique characteristics about the

Torah is the way in which it has been passed
down to us over thousands of years since Moshe’s
time. Our forefathers considered the Torah very
sacred or Holy. Therefore, they took great
precautions when they made copies of each of the
books. The reason for this is because of the
Jewish Scribes that have been in charge of writing
down the Torah. Their work has made certain
that the text, or the Hebrew version of the Torah,
has been passed down unchanged for thousands
years.
Who are the Scribes?
A Scribe, called a Sofer Setam is a man who learned the art from another
experienced Sofer and often Father's pass the knowledge to their sons. Many
men who desire to become a Sofer Setam sometimes travel great distances to
learn the art. The training is long and a student must be careful to obey all the
rules that ensure that the text they write is accurate before he is allowed to write
a Sefer Torah, or kosher scroll to be used for religious services. Very strict
biblical laws are observed by the Sofer in order for the scroll to be considered
“Kosher.”

How is a Sefer Torah

made?
There are many laws mandated
by the Talmud, (the great body
of Jewish writings also called the
Oral Torah.) The Sefer Torah
scroll is not written on paper
made from trees. It is written
on a specially prepared skin of a
kosher animal, such as a bull,
goat or deer. This special
leather is called parchment or klaf and cannot be used for any other purpose.

The Sofer is very careful in making the klaf. After it soaks in lyme-water for nine
days, he removes as much hair from the skin as possible then stretches it over a
large wooden frame. Afterward, the Sofer uses a special sanding machine to
help remove the rest of the hair and to prepare the surface for writing.

The ink is also unique and must not contain any sort
of metal that might cause the ink to rust. Mixing
gallnuts, copper, sulfa crystals, gum Arabic, and
water make it. It is forbidden to use a writing
instrument made from any metal that is also used to
make weapons. Only a feather quill from a Kosher Bird, usually a
turkey or goose, is used as a pen. A separate special quill is always
used to write any of the names of HaShem.
When everything is ready, the Sofer immerses in a Mikveh to prepare himself for
the Holy task of writing the Word of HaShem. He never starts writing until after
morning prayers and this special Tefillah. He usually does his work close to a
Mikveh. Before the scribe writes one of the names of G-d, or if he makes an
error in writing a name of G-d, he must go immerse himself in the Mikveh.
Then he must begin that section of the Torah again, even if he has already
written on the whole section!

Additionally, the scroll that contains even the smallest mistake in writing a name
of G-d must be taken and buried, or placed in a special place called a genizah.
Genizah is Hebrew for "hiding place" and is a location specially set aside to put
sacred Hebrew books that are no longer usable. A book, or paper of any kind
that contains a name of HaShem, called Sh’mot or "names," is placed there
because it is improper to destroy any of the written names of HaShem. Genizot
can sometimes be found in the attic or basement of a synagogue, in walls, or
even buried underground.

Writing the Torah can take up to year to accomplish and though there are a few
scribes in America, most often this work is done in Israel. When a full Torah
scroll is finished, it will contain 304,805 letters of the Hebrew alephbet and if it is
unrolled is about the size of half a football field.

Resources:
http://www.messianicscribalarts.com
For in-depth study of the making of a Sefer Torah visit the Torah Tots site:
(Non-Messianic)
http://www.torahtots.com/torah/sefertorah.htm
Encyclopedia Judaica: Reference can be found at most Libraries
Customs of Reading the Torah:
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/torah_reading.html
Berachot workbook
http://www.torahschool.co.uk/Berachot/Berachot.htm
 The Torah Berachot

Before Torah is Read

Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O'lam,

asher bachar banu m'kol ha-amim,
v'natan lanu eht Torah-to.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah.
Ameyn.

Blessed are you, O' L-RD, our G-d, King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples,
and has given us your Torah.
Blessed are you, L-RD, giver of the Torah.
Ameyn.
 After Torah is Read

Ba-ruch Atah Adonai,

E-lo-hey-nu Me-lech ha-o-lahm,
A-sher na-tan la-nu Torat e-met,
v’cha-yey o-lahm na-tah b’to-che-nu.
Ba-ruch Atah Adonai, no-teyn ha-Torah.
A-meyn.

Blessed are You,

O Lord our G-d,
King of the Universe,
Who has given us Torah of Truth,
and has planted eternal life
in our midst.
Blessed are You O Lord,
Giver of the Torah. Ameyn.

Copyright 2004 Messianic Homeschool.Net

All Rights reserved
No portion of this document may be copied for distribution.
May be used for home or Synagogue education free of charge.
www.messianichomeschool.net
Suggested Activities:

1. Have the students make a small Torah scroll using wooden dowels, (toddlers
can use metallic silver pipe cleaners) and paper, felt, sequins, fringe, small bells,
etc. Then practice writing part of the Alephbet on their scroll using a Quill (bird
feather) and ink, much as a Sofer would. (You can purchase turkey bird feathers
rather inexpensively in most craft stores.)

2. Use a knife or scissors to cut the quill (the center of the feather) at a slant.
The hollow of the feather will hold the ink; the slanted point will direct the ink.

3. Have the older students write their name in Hebrew letters, then calculate
how often they would need to write their name to equal the length of a
regulation size American football field. An American playing field is a rectangle --
360 feet in length and 160 feet in width.

4. Have your Middle and High school students research the ancient/modern
methods of making the ink used in writing a Sofer Torah and write a report on it.

5. All age students will enjoy making homemade ink. (Be sure and supervise your
little ones.)

Homemade Ink:

Old sock or thick plastic zip lock bag

Hammer
12 walnut shells
small saucepan
small jar with lid
measuring spoons
¼ teaspoon white vinegar

Place the shells into the sock or bag and close securely. Lightly hammer the
sock to break up the shells. The more broken up the shells are, the better. Put
the shells in a small saucepan and add the water. Simmer on low heat for 30
minutes. Turn the heat off and let the shells soak in the water overnight. (Much
of it will cook away.)

Pour the brown ink you have made into a small jar and add ¼ teaspoon of white
vinegar. The vinegar will keep the ink from fading and the ink from spoiling.
Instructions for making a scroll pin to save to wear on the next Simchat Torah:
This craft idea originally appeared in The Jewish Holiday Craft Book by Kathy
Ross, published by The Millbrook Press in Brookfield Connecticut.

Here are the supplies you will need:

· Regular white paper (like you use in the printer) or a roll of adding machine
tape.
· A plastic drinking straw
· Two brown pipe cleaners
· A scrap of felt or other material
· Fabric trim
· Craft jewels or sequins
· A big safety pin
· Scotch tape
· Fabric glue (regular white glue will do in a pinch)

Here is what you need to do:

1. If you are using 8 1/2x11 sheet of white paper, cut the paper in half the long
way. If you are using a roll of adding machine tape, cut off 11-12 inches of the
tape.

2. Cut the straw in half and then glue or tape the straw to either end of the
paper.

3. Allow the glue to dry and then roll the two ends of the paper together using
the straws. It should look like a little Torah scroll. Then tape the scroll shut.

4. Stick the pipe cleaners through the straws to that there is an even amount of
pipe cleaner on either end of the straw.

5. Take the scrap of felt or fabric and wrap it around the "Torah Scroll" and then
glue it together at the back of the scroll. The fabric or felt should cover the
paper.

6. Then fold either end of the pipe cleaners over toward the front of the Torah.
These are the handles of the scroll, also called Atzei Chaim or The Trees of Life.

7. Decorate the fabric or felt with the sequins, jewels and fabric trim.

8. Attach a large safety pin to the back of the Torah and then pin the Torah on
your child's shirt.
9. Wear the Torah pin to synagogue on Simchat Torah and participate in a
"Torah Pride Parade"!

Glossary:
1. Moshe Rabaynu – Also, Moshe Rabeinu- The Leader of Benei Israel (Children
of Israel) and teacher of the Torah.

2. Latin – Language of the Roman Empire.

3. Kosher – (kasher) "Proper": Biblical laws that tell us which animals and fish
are acceptable to eat and how to treat the animals we use for food. Only
animals that chew the cud (grasses) and have split hooves are permitted. Of sea
creatures, only those (fish) having fins and scales are permitted. Other Jewish
folk observe additional laws from the Talmud. A few of these laws simple, some
are very complicated.

4. Talmud – (Oral Law) (Hebrew: “study” or “learning) When Yeshua walked with
us, the Talmud did not exist as it does today. It was called the teachings of the
"sages". It was the Torah teacher's duty was to explain and comment on the
laws and rules of the Torah until the People understood them thoroughly.
Eventually, these teachings and comments of the Sages or Rabbi’s were written
down. These teachings and comments became what are now known as the
Talmud. (For further study: See “The History of the Talmud” at www.Sacred-
Texts.com) http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t10/ht104.htm

5. Scribe – (Heb. Sofer) Person trained to copy the Torah on special scrolls.

6. Sefer Torah – Hand written Torah scroll used for reading in the synagogue.

7. Klaf – Kosher parchment used in making a Sefer Torah

8. Mikveh – A body of water used in many different Jewish rituals. Messianic

Jews immerse in a Mikveh or even a river, lake or stream when he/she has
received Yeshua as their Meshiach. It is called having a Tevilah when a person is
immersed.

9. Genizot – A special place to put any document or paper that contains any of
the names of HaShem.