Have you, or someone you know, ever thought of becoming a sofer? Following a successful pilot program over the summer, the newly formed Yeshivas STa”M has opened registration for its upcoming winter safrus course. Based in Crown Heights, the course will not only train aspiring sofrim in the numerous practical skills required to be a sofer, it will also provide comprehensive education in the halachah governing the craft.
Using a small classroom format, the in-person course will equip future sofrim with the knowledge and the confidence needed to pass the rigorous test administered by the respected Vaad Mishmeres STa”M.
Easy as it may seem, the complex nature of Hilchos STa”M proves to be formidable, and the lack of educational resources has been an obstacle for novice and veteran alike. Consumers, too, have been affected by the lack of clear information, often resulting in unnecessary confusion and misunderstandings.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok (Fitz) Rabin, a sought-after sofer in Crown Heights, founded Yeshivas STa”M with the goal of producing sofrim who are not only yirei Shomayim and technically skilled, but academically proficient as well. The course will be the first of its kind outside of Eretz Yisroel.
Meir Gurary, who just completed the pilot program, said, “It was the best investment I have ever made. I learned Ksav Admo”r Hazaken, gained mastery in the halachah, all while growing in my yiras Shomayim and confidence.”
“I didn’t have a clue how to cut a feather in order to practice my writing, and now it’s easy as pie,” said Mendel Schwei, who came to Yeshivas STa”M to learn how to carve a feather. “Rabbi Rabin is highly skilled and very patient,” he adds.
Using a personal, hands-on approach, the course will teach the following skills: 1) Carving and using a kulmus, feather, 2) priming the klaf, parchment, 3) making sirtut, lines, 4) measuring the kulmus 5) forming the letters of Ksav Admo”r Hazaken, 6) correcting mistakes 7) using a tikkun sofrim.
On the academic side, the course will cover in depth: 1) Simanim 32 and 36 in the Shulchan Aruch with the Mishnah Berurah and Biur Halacha, 2) Sefer Keses Ha’sofer, and 3) the rulings of the Alter Rebbe.
In time, Rabbi Rabin plans to bring the education of STa”M to rabbinical students, kollelim, and ultimately the entire community. By being more informed, consumers will be empowered to know what to seek out when purchasing STa”M and how to find it.
“Whether it’s an aspiring sofer or an experienced sofer, a rabbi or a layman, this is about empowerment. Empowerment through education. It’s a win-win,” Rabin says.
For more info, visit schoolofstam.com
Agudas sofrei stam anash is still active andhas ashiur on hilchus stam during day light savings time its on shabbos around 6:00 pm and during the winter its motzie shabbos kodesh an hr after the zman at rabbi clapman ‘s home 719 montgomery st this safrus shiur has been going on for 49 yrs (not all the yrs under the umbrella of the eigud)
Its mind boggling to see that in lubavitch the young sofrim are mechashev and make holy this vaad,the vaad mishmeres stam ,anyone that lived and practiced stam years ago in crown heights knows , that this organization wanted to pasel the alter rebbes ksav. If not for rabbi zirkind getting wind of this plan it would of passed,instead rabbi zirkind informed the rebbe of the vaads plan ,and the rebbe replied , that he should start a vaad on safrus so that one vaad wont go against another vaad to pasel another ksav. This organization is called Agudas kosvie stam… Read more »
Its important to note that most sofrim are not qualified to teach hagohah (checking), to learn checking you need to learn a lot more than ksivah (writing) and do a lot of Shimush (vaad Mishmeres stam recommends 3 years). It is a very difficult area to master and requires a separate exam and certification to writing. Unfortunately most sofrim have little expertise in checking and should not be doing so unless certified and trained accordingly. You are correct that there is a great shortage of professional magihim ( examiners) worldwide. A community is lucky even to have one. But it’s… Read more »
Beautiful idea! Check out the website, it’s really impressive!
Kadur Sheleg
hatslocho raboh fits , for the future maybe you can include classes for bedikos there is a great shortage of bodkim in the world, l.k.
Is available on the website http://www.schoolofstam.com
YY Rabin is starting something truly amazing that will have a great impact on the community at large and especially in the field of Safrus.
It’s people like YY Rabin that will bring change and progress to different areas of the Jewish community that will ultimately shape our community to be that much more successful.
Does anyone have a phone number? I don’t see any info here
Classes will be held at 321 Kingston Avenue iyh.
Wow. Way to go Rabbi Rabin. Your Future Talmudic are blessed to have such a kind patient and capable teacher.
Hatzlocho Rabbo Umuflogoh, and may you be Zoche that Shem Shomayim should be Niskadeah al Yodechoh
#1. Fitz’s Ksav is absolutely stunning!
#2. Presently, the industry is replete with ambiguity, and sorely lacks integrity and transparency. Yasher Koach for the opportunity to be educated!
The Rabbi Fitz Rabin is my first chavrusse in Buenos Aires Argentina during your shlichus.
Ksivo vechassimo toivo leshono toivo umesuco, Leib Rojtenberg. Brasilia Brazil
Please give the info of where this school is based?
It would be very helpful to include the location please?!
Sooo special. Somthing Sooo important . This generation sadly is unaware of the importance of the mezuza, sthing that protects our beautiful home. Empahasis today is on the tile we choose and the flooring when for all practical and spirutual purposes the mezuza is where the emphasis should be. Shouldn’t we spend the big money on the security system that will protect our lavish home?????? While I am Luckily I am the proud daughter of one of the rebbes sofrim , my dad currently checks the torshs every Friday in 770. I was raised with the importance. There is also… Read more »
Hopefully, this will making a Kiddush Shem Lubavitch and will make a zechus of people hain better quality Stam..
Hatzlocho Rabbo. This is very innovative and will bring a great boost to safrus.