G‑d instructed Moses to transcribe His words at Sinai. The very first Torah scroll was born. For thousands of years since, each Torah has been transcribed precisely the same way.

It begins with parchment, ink, a hand-sharpened feather quill, and a G‑d fearing Sofer (scribe). Intense concentration is required. Indeed, to help his focus, a Sofer can be heard while writing saying, “for the holiness of a Sefer Torah.”

It takes one year, 62 large sheets of parchment, 248 columns, 10,416 lines, and a perfect 304,805 letters. Completed, a Torah Scroll is the holiest object in Judaism.

The Torah is brought into its new home, the synagogue’s holy ark, in a celebration reminiscent of a wedding. Elegant velvet, gold and silver, adorn the new Torah.

3,333 years old. The Torah remains flawlessly unchanged. It is a living miracle.

The Very Last Mitzvah in the Torah

The final Mitzvah that Moses communicated to us in the Torah is the Mitzvah to write a Torah. It is an honor and great Mitzvah to participate in the writing of a Torah. By endowing a letter, word, or sentence for yourself, your children, your family members, or friends, it is as though you have written your own Torah Scroll, thus fulfilling this special Mitzvah.

With the kind help and generosity of an anonymous donor, Chabad of Central Oregon has commissioned a scribe to begin writing a new Torah Scroll for the physical and spiritual well-being of our community. The Torah has been dedicated in honor of our Jewish community, and in memory of Chana Etka bas Yakov Chaim.

We invite you to join us in writing history, fulfill the Mitzvah of writing a Torah Scroll uniting Jews from every background by endowing a letter, word or sentence in the Central Oregon CommUnity Torah for each member of your family. You also have the option of dedicating various special selections in honor or in memory of a loved one.

Now, you can fulfill this Mitzvah. Join us in writing history.