4 Scribal oddities first day of Creation

Lithuanian Torah
The Torah Scroll from Vilna, Lithuania
Written 1750 between 1770
4 Scribal oddities first day of Creation

Dr Colin Smith (1955 – 2008) Hebrew Professor from Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania was par excellence among the Hebrew professors I have worked with. His practical way of teaching using the basis of “how can I use Hebrew in my life” sparked the interest of students and produced really large energetic Hebrew classes. In 2005 we loaned Dr. Smith the Torah Scroll from Vilna, Lithuania to have his advanced Hebrew students photograph all the Scribal oddities contained in the Scroll. They studied and photographed the Scroll the fall semester of 2005 and spring semester of 2006. They found hundreds of embellishments and letter variances.

 

Dr Smith was a good friend of Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc. and he asked if they would like to publish an article on the Vilna Torah in their Magazine “Israel My Glory”.  Their January/February 2006 used his article and a few photographs for a two page centerfold article.

f the many scribal oddities in the Scroll, this photograph of the first day of creation in Genesis 1:1-5 shows four variances in calligraphy.

Of the many scribal oddities in the Scroll, this photograph of the first day of creation in Genesis 1:1-5 shows four variances in calligraphy.

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