The Sacred Craft of the Sofer

add to outlook add to google calendar remind me

Wednesday, January 30th, 2019
7:00 PM

Congregation Emanu-El Adult Education Committee presents “The Sacred Craft of the Sofer” with Dov Berger on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 7:00 pm. This event takes place at Congregation Emanu-El Synagogue, 1461 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2J3.

The heart of Judaism is in its sacred texts – Torahs, megillahs, tefillin, and mezuzahs – which are traditionally written by hand, using a quill, on parchment, by a trained scribe. However, even though these texts are the center of our religion, the way in which they are prepared, and the art, craft, and intricacies of Jewish law that underlie every element of the writing, materials, and preparation of the texts, are little known by most Jews. In this talk, sofer (scribe) Dov Berger will unveil the mysteries of the sacred craft of the sofer, bringing together elements of halakhah (ritual law), midrash (rabbinic commentaries), and kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) to explain what goes into creating a kosher, holy Jewish text.

A lawyer by day, Dov became interested in becoming a sofer six years ago, when he commissioned a scroll of Esther. He became fascinated with the art and craft that went into creating a megillah – writing with a quill and ink, on parchment, to create holy texts. His interest piqued, Dov found a teacher who taught him both the technical skills and the Jewish law necessary to be a sofer. Dov wrote his first megillah of Esther five years ago, and has since written scrolls of Esther, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Lamentations, several kesuvahs, and a number of mezuzahs, and started writing a Torah. Dov lives with his wife Jennifer, a Victoria native; their daughter Miriam; and their dog and two cats, in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan.

This event is sponsored by the Emanu-El Adult Education Team. Contact Heshi at [email protected] if you have any questions. Entry is by donation: light refreshments will be served.