Back issues kept me sidelined for longer than I thought.  Unfortunately, it turned out not to be a pinched nerve, but a spinal issue called Bechterew’s disease, one of those genetic things that Ashkenazi Jews (of which I am very much so) tend to get stuck with.   Not dangerous, just painful, and complicated by long periods of sitting and hunching over… meaning its not good to have if you are a sofer.

Anyways –  have reached a point where I’m back to writing regularly.  Here is todays writing, the end of parshas toldos:

[For those of you with a critical eye, there are a few things that have to be cleaned and corrected up here.  I took the photo while waiting for ink to dry.]

One interesting detail is the small “kuf” in the word “katzti” in the top line.   The entire verse is the words of Rivka Imenu: ” Katzti [I am disgusted] with my life on account of the daughters of Ches,” which were uttered in response to Eisav’s having “married out” by taking a Canaanite wife.   This point became Rivkah’s main argument for sending Yaakov away and thus distancing him from Eisav.

Rabbeinu Bechaya explains that Rivkah saw through ruach ha-kodesh that the Beis Mikdash would be toppled as a direct result of the Jewish people intermarrying with the gentile, non-believing nations.  The Kodesh ha-Kadoshim, the holiest part of the Mikdash, was 100 amos high.  The loss of this structure as a result of intermarriage is alluded to by the diminished “kuf,” whose numerical value is 100.  Conversely, the rebuilding of the Heichal is alluded to in Tehillim (Psalms) 84:4 “Even the bird finds its home, the free bird her nest.”  The word “Kan,” nest, is written here with an enlarged “kuf” indicating that this verse speaks of the rebuilding of the Heichal and return of the Jewish people.

The Megaleh Amukos also understands the diminished “kuf” as a reference to the destruction of the mikdash, pointing out that “Katzti” can be read as “Ketz Tov Yud” – meaning “at the end of 410,” hinting that the Beis HaMikdash would only last 410 years.

To add my own humble understanding of this letter: if you read “katzti” without the diminished “kuf”, you have the word “vayatzet,” which appears in Eichah (Lamentations) 4:11: “HaShem kindled a fire in Zion,” referring to the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash by fire.

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The 7th Yeria - All Done!

The seventh yeria is all done ! Everything went pretty much as expected – no real surprises.

You may notice that the writing looks  closer in some sections here that it has in previous yerios.  This is because this yeria contains a preponderance of yeser lines (lines that have more letters in them than they are intended to accommodate – see Monday’s post for more info…)

This sheet covers a lot of significant events in the Torah.  Avraham, following the passing of Sarah, orders his servant to seek out a wife for his son, Yitzchok.   Yitzchok Marries, and has children of his own: Yaakov and Eisav.   The yeria ends with Eisav spurning his birthright.

Enjoy these photos and check back on Monday for more posts…

The Second Column... Eliezer Meets Rivkah and the Family of Besuel...

Detail of the 2nd Column

Avraham Takes Keturah as his Wife...

Eisav Spurns the Birthright, and Yitzchok Travels to Gerar

Checking, Fixing, Tagging...

Long night of checking the 7th yeria, doing some corrections, and adding in taggim where needed to wrap it up.   By tomorrow afternoon the entire 7th yeria should be done and I will post some pics.

The Second part of the post in the Tikkun is still forth coming – check back tomorrow for more!

A big yasher koach (“More power to you!”) to Mr. Nathan Bradbury and Family for sponsoring Sunday’s writing! Attached below is a picture of the section completed as per their sponsorship: the bottom 21 lines of column 25, which covers Eliezer’s taking of Rivkah as a wife for Yitzchok.

As always, we appreciate your sponsorship and support in this important and meaningful endeavor. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, click HERE.

Check back tomorrow for a fascinating look into the Tikkun ha-Soferim…

Bottom of Column 25

All of Column 25 (not yet metuyag...)

The Fifth Yeria & Columns 16 to 19

The fifth yeria is done and the the sixth is well under way as I type – There was a few days down-time this week as I awaited a new shipment of klaf (parchment).   I mostly used the time to proofread what had been written so far and to clean up a few passages.   Enjoy these pics, and check back soon!

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