How a Torah Scroll Is Written

A mitzvah fulfilled in a single letter The commandment to write a Torah scroll is derived from "Therefore, write down this poem" (Deuteronomy 31:19). Maimonides writes that even one who inherited a scroll from his ancestors should write one of his own, and that one who cannot write may have others write it for him (Mishneh Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzah and the Torah Scroll 7:1). The same passage states that "whoever corrects even a single letter of a Torah scroll is regarded as though he wrote the whole of it."

The materials The writing is done on the hide of a kosher animal, processed for the sake of a Torah scroll (Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah 271:1). Maimonides distinguishes g'vil, k'laf and duchsustos and specifies which side is written on for each (Mishneh Torah 1:8). The ink must be durable black; writing without such ink, or without ruled lines, appears in the list of factors that disqualify a scroll (ibid. 10:1).

How it is written "One writes with careful, very beautiful script" — the space of a small letter between words, a hair's breadth between letters, and the height of a line between lines; each line is thirty letters long (ibid. 7:4). Every column is therefore the product of planning, not improvisation.

What is asked of the scribe The scribe writes with intent, in the script he was trained in and the tradition he follows. The work takes many months, and it must then be proofread — as described in our article on proofreading and repair.

Note: This material is educational only and is not a halachic ruling. For a practical question, consult your rabbi and a qualified scribe.