How is a Torah Scroll (Sefer Torah) made?
sofer The sofer prepares parchment paper from a kosher animal (usually a cow), ink (from powdered gall nuts, copper sulfate, Arabic gum, and water), and a quill made from a kosher bird such as a turkey or duck. The sofer uses a stylus to mark the area of the parchment where the writing will take place. Once the parchment, ink, and quill are ready, the sofer will begin to write the Sefer Torah. After all the parchments have been written, the sofer will sew the sections together with a special thread called giddin. Giddin is leg sinew from a kosher animal. Once the sections are sewn, the sofer will sew the two ends of the Sefer Torah to two wooden rollers called Eitzei Chayim (Trees of Life). Writing a Sefer Torah can take up to one year and will be checked by at least two other people before it is used to ensure that no errors have been made.
