The Gemora in Megilla 16b learns that it is a halacha le-Moshe mi-sinai that certain types of safrus (holy writing) must be written with shirtut (sometimes pronounced sirtut) -  guidelines scored onto the parchment f0r the lines of text and the upper, lower, left and right margins.

While  all of the Rishonim agree that this law applies to mezuzos, yet not to tefillin, there is a dispute between Rashi and  Rabbeinu Tam (Rashi’s grandson) as to whether or not a Sefer Torah must be written with guidelines.

The Acharonim, however, bring proof from the Talmud Yerushalmi and Maseches Sofrim that the halacha is like Rashi that a Sefer Torah has the same law of a mezuza: it must have guidelines or else it is posul.

Now, I mentioned above that tefillin do not require guidelines.  While this is the fundamental law, the Rama in O.C. 32 tells us that the custom has become to use guidelines for all safrus, including tefillin.

How are these guidelines made?

A long time ago sofrim used an instrument called a sargel to score lines on the klaf.  This was simply a stick with a sharp thorn affixed to it.

A Friend's Sargel

Although modern technology makes scoring much easier,  a few sofrim still use sargelim today.

Nowadays, when a sofer orders klaf it arrives pre-scored by a machine.  The machine scoring is excellent, and guarantees identical lines from page-to-page without fail.   I’m sure it also makes the klaf-makers job a lot easier!

Next in this series: Making ink (messy, messy, messy…)

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