Sefer Torah

Richard B. Aiken

Torah Scroll: Touching

Don't directly touch the parchment of a Torah scroll with your hand or other part of your body, unless there is no other way to handle the scroll.

Torah Scroll: Standing

Stand when a Torah is being moved.

Note: When the ark is open, you do not need to stand if the Torah or Torahs are stationary, but the custom is to stand anyway.

Torah Scroll: Lifting

To lift up the Torah:

  • Grip the handles close to the plate at the top of the lower handles.
  • Roll the Torah so that three columns are exposed and one of the seams is between the two rollers (this is a custom).
  • Lever up the Torah (you may slide the Torah down the table toward yourself if that makes it easier).
  • Show the Torah to people on your right and then on your left.

If you want to turn in a circle, turn to counter-clockwise as seen from above.

  • At the end of rolling (glila) closed the Torah, there should be a seam between the two rods on which the Torah is rolled (such that if it were to tear, it would likely tear at the seam and no words of Torah would be torn).

Torah Scroll (Sefer Torah): Priority for Writing

Writing a Torah scroll (sefer Torah) is a mitzva but is not a priority; there are other activities that have a higher priority for Jewish observance.

Note: The commandment that each Jew write a sefer Torah is not fulfilled by paying someone else to write a few letters of the sefer Torah for you.

Note: If you hire someone to write the entire sefer Torah for you, that fulfills your requirement.

Sofer: Woman

A woman may not be a sofer. Even though women are obligated in the commandments of megila, they may not be sofrot for megilot nor for the Prophets (nevi'im) section of the Torah.

Sofer: Non-Observant Jew

A non-shomer Shabbat Jew may not be a sofer.

Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.