If you would like a real live Sofer S"TaM
to come and speak to your community then it’s a case of ‘have quill will travel’ (well within reason). I’ve given many talks, lectures and educational/hands on sessions for both adults and children, Jews and non-Jews who I find are fascinated by the art of sofrut
and Hebrew manuscripts . From sessions at cheder
to lectures at Cambridge and Leeds Universities, to addressing creatives at an advertising agency, hopefully there is something to learn in sofrut
that will appeal to everyone.
I have also done remote sessions over zoom
(since Covid-19) if you would like to do something internationally or can't get everyone together physically, for example above for Malborough College.
Available sessions:
The Work of the Sofer - the materials, rules and methods involved in creating and fixing Sifrei Torah, tefillin, mezuzot and megillot. A demonstration of the basics which can also include a hands on practical on forming the letters (worksheet master supplied for copying).
Torah Tales and Care of your Torah - a more in depth presentation showing the sorts of issues one has to look for when looking after your Torah complete with many extreme examples of pasul (non-kosher) Sifrei Torah. based in part on my book of the same title.
Secrets of Sefer Tagin
- a whirlwind tour of my PhD compressing many years research into a short presentation that highlights the real Tannaitic origin of this scribal manual, the specially decorated letters, the coded messages hidden within, and the author's desire to re-house the Temple into the Torah.
Visual Midrash - the meaning and significance in the otiyyot meshunnot scribal oddities in the Torah, large letters, small letters, bent letters, strange tagin, dots, and other special forms.
MST #1431: The Torah That Took the Long Way Round - the discovery of an important scroll in the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust collection. Examining the various clues that unlocked its true age (way older than catalogued!), its geographical origin, and significance in the Jewish history.
Did the Robot Really Write a Torah?
- an exploration of the halakha
around a Robot writing a 'Torah' in a Berlin museum. Looking at the physical and spiritual repercussions. Includes video footage of the robot at work!
Mimaqom Acher
(From Another Place): Finding or Forcing God into the Megillah
- Gods doesn't appear in Esther, or does He? Examining the different ways scribes and scholars have tried to insert the Deity into the scroll.
The Sixth Megillah: Megillat haShoah - the creation of the sixth megillah - Megillat haShoah, the first new scroll in over 1,500 years. Examine in detail the visual midrashim that add meaning to the text, and that there is no such thing as a co-incidence.
Restoring the Tyburn Megillah - detailing the repair work to this special megillah fromthe late 1700s, owned by the Tyburn nuns and looking at the parallels between Tyburn and the Purim story. Based on my book of the same name.
The Hidden Chanukah Megillah - Recreating Megillat Benei Chashmonai - the very different story of the half-forgotten Chanukah Megillah that was once read in many communities on Shabbat Chanukah best known as Megillat Antiochus. Also, the new tiqqun I created. Discussed in detail on in my book.
The Sixth Megillah: Megillat haShoah - the creation of the sixth megillah - Megillat haShoah, the first new scroll in over 1,500 years. Examine in detail the visual midrashim that add meaning to the text, and that there is no such thing as a co-incidence.
Restoring the Tyburn Megillah - detailing the repair work to this special megillah fromthe late 1700s, owned by the Tyburn nuns and looking at the parallels between Tyburn and the Purim story. Based on my book of the same name.
The Hidden Chanukah Megillah - Recreating Megillat Benei Chashmonai - the very different story of the half-forgotten Chanukah Megillah that was once read in many communities on Shabbat Chanukah best known as Megillat Antiochus. Also, the new tiqqun I created. Discussed in detail on in my book.
In preparation:
Getting the Hump - The Letter Chet in Holy Writings
MST #157, the 'Fire' Torah
The Vatican's First Torah
I also undertake siyyumim - completion ceremony for new or extensively repaired Sifrei Torah. Obviously I tend to do these for Sifrei Torah I have worked with, but can also run these for scrolls where another sofer is not able to attend for whatever reason.
Tailored sessions, and sessions based on any of my papers (see my academic CV) considered on request.
Contact me by clicking here or the button below.
