Obj. ID: 38165  Ezrat ha-Sofer, Amsterdam, 1769

This text was prepared by William Gross:

This five volume leather bound set was prepared as a model for scribes writing a Torah Scroll. The text is arranged to conform with Halachic Law pertaining to the scribal arts. Each pair of facing pages represents one comun of the Torah - traditionally 42 lines commencing with the letter "Vav". The "Shira" and "Ha'azinu" portions are printed on wider leaves and folded, to follow the wider comuns appropriate for the written Torah. The set is bound in five parts, with Haftarot at the end of each volume with its own title page in both Hebrew and Spanish. The frontispiece of the first volume carries an engraved frame by the artist Santcroos.
Ezrat HaSofer, "Tikun Sofrim Vavei Ha'Amudim" [Five Books of the Torah, with Haftarot]. With Or Torah by Rabbi Menachem Di Lunzano, "Appropriate for study and for copying a Sefer Torah". Amsterdam, [1767-1769?]. Illustrated half-title page in the Bereshit volume, with the Hebrew year 5529 [1768-1769]. The rest of the title pages are dated 5527 [1766-1767]. Separate title pages for the section of Haftarot in each volume, dated 5528 [1767-1768]. Printed at the beginning of Bereshit is the Meir Netiv composition regarding the Holy Names and the mundane names in the Torah, by Rabbi Yehuda Piza. Approbations and poems lauding the book and its editor. Printed at the end of the Book of Devarim is the Haftarah of Shabbat Eichah with Spanish translation, verse per verse and the book Luchot Ha'Ibur (separate title page) - leaves of charts for determining the Festivals (Hebrew and Spanish). This section is also by Rabbi Piza.
The book was designed for use as example for scribes [according to the custom called Vavei Ha'Amudim, with each column of the Torah scroll starting with the letter Vav]. Shirat HaYam was designed the same way it is written in a Torah scroll and therefore it was printed on wider pages. Bereshit: [11], [1], 64; 26 leaves. Shemot: [2] 65-119; [3], 2-28 leaves. Vayikra: [2], 120-159; [3], 2-24 leaves. Bamidbar: [2], 160-215; [3], 2-16 leaves. Devarim: [1], 216-264, [3], 268-281 leaves; [8] leaves.
Two editions were printed that same year. This edition is the unvowelized edition, with te'amim and numbered verses and chapters.