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Heart and Soul: Adventures of a Jewish scribe

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24/01/2020 GMT

Adventures of a Jewish scribe

BBC World Service - Heart and Soul, Adventures of a Jewish scribe

The married couple saving ancient manuscripts.

In the first of two special programmes we meet Marc Michaels who has a rare skill.  He’s keeping Jewish tradition alive. He is a Sofer, a scribe. It’s a dexterous skill that has been passed down for thousands of years. Scrolls are always hand written, otherwise they are not Kosher.

Scrolls hold the sacred words of the Torah, God’s instructions to Moses and they form the basic tenets of the Jewish faith as well as playing a vital, symbolic role in the synagogue.

But throughout their turbulent history, Jews have been forced to move on, sometimes at speed, communities have disappeared, or were banned from practicing their faith, and forced to abandon their scrolls.  Heart and Soul hears why it so important to find, rescue, repair and return scrolls to Jewish communities throughout the world.

It’s slow, painstaking work, writing over one letter at a time, repairing tears and removing stains on ancient manuscripts.

Marc introduces us to his wife Avielah, who is also a scribe, or 'Soferet'. She calls herself a ‘Scribal Evangelist’, the first modern female scribe 

Describing himself as a “Jedi with a quill” Dina looks on as Marc and Avielah bring these ancient, damaged scrolls back to life.

Presenter: Marc Michaels
Producer: Dina Newman

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