"The things revealed belong to us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this Torah". Deuteronomy 29:28

The meaning of Torah is therefore not merely "law", but a broader concept, that includes teaching, morality and Divine revelation. Though "Torah" is sometimes used to refer to the entire body of Jewish religious writings, it is most specifically the first five books of the Bible (The Five Books of Moses). The handwritten scroll that contains these writings is the life-blood of the Jewish people, the story of its encounter with God and the moral universe.

In our tradition, the purpose of Torah is to make Israel a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation". It is called a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. One of our sages taught that its fundamental principle was that all humanity was descended from a common ancestor, created in God's image. Is it any wonder that the Torah is considered a "Tree of Life"?

The Torah is written on parchment made from kosher animal skins (called k'laf). No base metals, of the kind used to make weapons may be utilized to write or repair these texts. Almost every sofer writes with a quill made from a turkey feather, which is sturdy and durable, cutting the point of the feather to give it the flat surface necessary for forming the unique calligraphy of the Torah.

The Torah can only be written in this special square script called K'tav Ashuri. Although Hebrew is read from right to left, the scribe writes each individual letter from left to right, checking each word from a guide called a Tikkun, singing each word, each letter, out loud. Mistakes, if made, are excised by scraping the letters off, but not with any metal tool. A mistake in the writing of any of God's Names cannot be corrected, since the Name of God cannot be erased in the tradition, and that parchment must be discarded.

After the scribe has completed the copy of the Torah, the sheets of parchment (called yeriah) are sewn together by him, using a special thread made from the sinew or foot muscles of a kosher animal (called giddin). The ends of the scroll are then attached to wooden rollers, atzei hayim, trees of life. A Torah scroll is treated with great respect and reverence; it is often adorned with silver or gold crowns and breastplates, while richly decorated mantles cover and protect it. A pointer or "yad" ("hand"), of precious metal or wood is used by the Torah reader to keep his or her place, as it is forbidden to touch the parchment of the Torah while reading from it.

The writing of a new Sefer Torah marks a milestone for a Jewish community. As Temple Israel observes its Jubilee, we wait to welcome a new scroll containing the record and values of our journey.