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Post History
At my synagogue we're currently writing a sefer torah in honor of our retiring rabbi. I know that the 613th mitzvah is to write a sefer torah, and have been taught that participating in the writin...
#3: Post edited
by
DonielF
·
2020-09-11T17:54:36Z (over 3 years ago)
#2: Post edited
by
Monica Cellio
·
2020-06-28T19:08:19Z (almost 4 years ago)
jargon
- At my synagogue we're currently writing a *sefer torah* in honor of our retiring rabbi. I know that the 613th *mitzvah* is to write a *sefer torah*, and have been taught that *participating* in the writing of one fulfills the obligation -- we don't each have to write our own complete scroll.
I understand that the conventional way to do this is to make a financial donation and then sit with the *sofer* and touch the *sofer's* hand (or arm) while a letter is written. In the activities at my synagogue I've seen the result referred to as "your letter". (For example, the honoree got the *beit* in *B'reisheet* as "his" letter.) Or sometimes it's words, verses, chapters, or *parshiyot*, depending on the size of the donation.What part of this actually effects "writing a *sefer torah*"? If someone makes a donation but doesn't sit with the *sofer*, is that person *yotzei*? If the person declares the intent to participate but doesn't make a donation, is that enough? (For example, maybe writing a *sefer torah* is a community activity and all members of the community have a share without funding it.)If one is *yotzei* only by physically assisting with the writing, I have a followup question: what happens if the *sofer* makes a mistake? I saw a case with a spelling error, which will require the *sofer* to scrape off and rewrite text that people participated in.
- At my synagogue we're currently writing a *sefer torah* in honor of our retiring rabbi. I know that the 613th *mitzvah* is to write a *sefer torah*, and have been taught that *participating* in the writing of one fulfills the obligation -- we don't each have to write our own complete scroll.
- I understand that the conventional way to do this is to make a financial donation and then sit with the *sofer* (scribe) and touch the *sofer's* hand (or arm) while a letter is written. In the activities at my synagogue I've seen the result referred to as "your letter". (For example, the honoree got the *beit* in *B'reisheet* as "his" letter.) Or sometimes it's words, verses, chapters, or *parshiyot*, depending on the size of the donation.
- What part of this actually effects "writing a *sefer torah*"? If someone makes a donation but doesn't sit with the *sofer*, has that person fulfilled the obligation? If the person declares the intent to participate but doesn't make a donation, is that enough? (For example, maybe writing a *sefer torah* is a community activity and all members of the community have a share without funding it.)
- If one fulfills the obligation only by physically assisting with the writing, I have a followup question: what happens if the *sofer* makes a mistake? I saw a case with a spelling error, which will require the *sofer* to scrape off and rewrite text that people participated in.
#1: Initial revision
by
Monica Cellio
·
2020-06-28T18:07:50Z (almost 4 years ago)
At my synagogue we're currently writing a *sefer torah* in honor of our retiring rabbi. I know that the 613th *mitzvah* is to write a *sefer torah*, and have been taught that *participating* in the writing of one fulfills the obligation -- we don't each have to write our own complete scroll. I understand that the conventional way to do this is to make a financial donation and then sit with the *sofer* and touch the *sofer's* hand (or arm) while a letter is written. In the activities at my synagogue I've seen the result referred to as "your letter". (For example, the honoree got the *beit* in *B'reisheet* as "his" letter.) Or sometimes it's words, verses, chapters, or *parshiyot*, depending on the size of the donation. What part of this actually effects "writing a *sefer torah*"? If someone makes a donation but doesn't sit with the *sofer*, is that person *yotzei*? If the person declares the intent to participate but doesn't make a donation, is that enough? (For example, maybe writing a *sefer torah* is a community activity and all members of the community have a share without funding it.) If one is *yotzei* only by physically assisting with the writing, I have a followup question: what happens if the *sofer* makes a mistake? I saw a case with a spelling error, which will require the *sofer* to scrape off and rewrite text that people participated in.