STaM and the work behind the letters.

Which STaM product are you looking for?

The product comes first. A community commissioning a Sefer Torah, someone ordering tefillin and a family choosing mezuzahs need different details and different timelines.

• Torah scroll: discuss the script, size, writing and proofreading, through to finishing and delivery.
• Tefillin: clarify Rashi or Rabbeinu Tam, whether you need a complete pair, and the components included.
• Mezuzah scrolls: start with quantity, script and parchment size, including any existing cases they must fit.
• Megillat Esther: discuss the handwritten scroll, its format, finishing and your intended date.

Sofer, klaf and hagahah: what do the words mean?

A sofer STaM is a scribe who writes sacred texts. Klaf means the prepared parchment used for the writing. Hagahah means proofreading or checking the written text.

You may also see the spellings mezuzah, mezuzot or mezuzos, and Megillat or Megillas Esther. The spelling changes between transliteration traditions; it is still important to specify the actual item and the details you want.

Ask about the work, as well as the finished item.

When discussing an order, ask who will write it, what checks are included and what documentation you will receive. A photograph helps you see the writing, while a proofreading report records a particular check. Ask about both when agreeing your order.

For a Sefer Torah with Shraga, the recorded workflow follows writing, computer and manual proofreading, corrections and finishing. Your personal order link brings together progress and the photographs and reports shared with you.

A useful first conversation.

Tell Shraga which product you need, the quantity, your preferred script and any important date. If you have a sample of writing you like or a size already in mind, mention it. You can leave uncertain details open for the conversation. The specification, price and timing are agreed before the order is confirmed.

Questions before ordering