Heritage Crafts

Sofrut calligraphy

A sofer is a Jewish scribe who writes and restores the kitvey hakodesh (holy writing) using quills and parchment and special ink, following detailed sets of rules. The full title is a sofer STa”M from the initials S (samech) for Sefer Torah, T (tav) for Tefillin and M (mem) for Mezuzah and these are the three main activities.

It is distinct from Hebrew calligraphy as you need a detailed knowledge of the halakha (Jewish Law) and a level of observance, being yirat shamayim (in awe of heaven).
CURRENTLY VIABLE
Status
Currently viable
Craft category
Other
Historic area of significance
Jewish community
Area practiced currently
Practising Jewish communities across the UK
Origin in the UK
Ever since there have been Jews in the UK. The first written record of Jewish settlement in England dates from 1070. They were then expelled in 1290 but resettlement appears to have been from 1656. Jewish communities would likely have had a sofer in their midst.
Current No. of professionals (Main income)
21-50
Current No. of trainees
15-20
Current No. of leisure makers
You cannot be an amateur sofer. You can be an Hebrew Calligrapher, of which there are a number in the UK.

History

The craft accompanies the writing of the Jewish Holy Scriptures (mainstream orthodoxy says this goes back to Moses in c. 1313 BCE but the majority of Biblical scholars believe that the written books were a product of the Babylonian captivity c. 6th century BCE but likely preserving oral and written materials from much earlier). The earliest existing examples of the craft are the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest of which is c. 400 BCE. From the time of the rabbis (c. Roman time) the rules of how the writing should be done were written down and subsequently codified (Maseckhet Sofrim – tractate containing some core rules is likely 8th Century but has material from a lot earlier) and then have developed since.

The way parchment is made, used, ink recipes, writing styles, writing implements how repairs can be made etc. have developed over time and varied by country depending on local customs and availability of materials (e.g. reeds vs quills).

Techniques

Local forms

Askenazi scribes traditionally use quills from a bird feather. Sefardim use reeds. The writing forms are different from different communities.

There are 3 main Ksav’s – scripts.

  • Beis Yosef – Used by most Askenazim
  • Ksav Wellish – Used by the Sephardim
  • Ksav Ari used by the Chassidim

Sub-crafts

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Issues affecting the viability

  • Demand: The small number of Jews and Jewish organisations in the UK, lack of funds for repairs or new works for many synagogues.
  • Lack of raw materials: Materials have to come from Israel, there are no kosher parchment makers left in the UK.

Support organisations

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Training organisations

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Craftspeople currently known

Individual craftspeople:

Businesses employing two or more makers:

Other information

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References

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National Lottery Heritage Fund
Swire Charitable Trust
The Royal Mint
Pilgrim Trust
Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation
William Grant Foundation

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