The Sefer Torah

Video from the program «À l'origine» hosted by Steve Suissa on France 2. With the participation of rabbi Michaël Azoulay and sofer Roland Attias. © France 2.

Introduction

Once completed, the Sefer Torah is stored in the synagogue's most sacred place, the Aron Kodesh («Holy Ark», in reference to the Ark of the Covenant), a cupboard usually adorned with embroidered hangings, in a section facing Jerusalem.
The Sefer Torah is a copy of the Hebrew text of the Torah, handwritten on a sheet of paper. gevil or klaf (parchment forms) using a quill (or other authorized writing tool). Producing a Sefer Torah is the fulfillment of one of the 613 commandments according to Jewish tradition.

Image opposite: Procession of several sifrei Torah during a Jewish festival. Felix Lipov 248715673.

A Sefer Torah contains 304,805 letters, all of which must be precisely written by a qualified scribe («sofer»). An error in transcription can render the Sefer Torah invalid. All manuscripts must also be written on parchment with salt, flour and m'afatsim to be valid.
The calf or parchment on which the sacred Hebrew text is written is mounted in a wooden case called עץ חיים (tree of life) in Hebrew. The case features two rollers, each with two handles used to scroll the text, for a total of four handles. Between the handles and the scrolls are round plates or disks engraved with images of holy places, engraved with dedications to the donor's parents or their relatives, and decorated with gold or silver.
Most modern Sifrei Torah are written with forty-two lines of text per column (Yemenite Jews use fifty-one). Strict rules govern the position and appearance of the Hebrew alphabet. Faithfulness to the Hebrew text of the Tanakh, and the Torah in particular, is considered paramount down to the last letter: translations or transcriptions are frowned upon for liturgical use, and transcription is carried out with meticulous care.
The completion of a Sefer Torah is an occasion for great festivity, with guests invited to a celebration during which everyone has the opportunity to write one of the last letters.