Torah Scrolls — The Difference in Sephardic and Ashkenazic Tradition

One may get the impression that there are intrinsic differences between Ashkenazic and Sephardic scrolls. So, first and foremost, it is worth noting that there are no significant differences. When it comes to content — both scrolls are essentially identical. It is not that there are different words or missing words in one or the other. When the expression “nussach” (version) is mentioned, it is not referring to different phrasing in the Torah scroll itself, but to stylistic differences.

The main difference between a Sephardic Torah scroll and an Ashkenazic one, is in the writing. While the art of writing S”tam (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot) is a skill that has been passed down, according to Jewish tradition, from generation to generation — a few variations of calligraphy styles have evolved.

Ashkenazic Stam writing can take any one of three forms:

1) Beis Yosef Writing

2) HaAdmor Hazaken Writing (Ba’al HaTanya) — according to Chabad tradition

3) Ari Writing

Sephardic writing, however, takes on one common style adopted, across the board, by all Eastern Jewry communities. It is often referred to as “Vellish” writing, or “Mor V’ktziah” and is easier to write than the Ashkenazic style of writing.
 

The second difference between Sephardic Torah scrolls and Ashkenazic Torah scrolls is in the kind of ornaments that decorate the scroll. Sephardic communities are accustomed to placing their Torah scrolls into luxurious Torah cases crafted out of carved wood, gold and silver etchings, velvet fabrics and the like. A Sephardic community, in this particular context, refers to communities originating in and around the area of the Mediterranean Sea and eastwards of it: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Bukhara, Egypt, Israel, Afghanistan and India, and certain communities of North Africa descent: Libya, Algeria, Tunisia as well as parts of Turkish Jewry, the Balkans and Georgia.

Ashkenazic Jews roll up their Torah scrolls on to wooden Torah rollers, called “Atzei Chaim” and cover them in a velvet mantle that is decorated with holy verses, lions, crowns and other customary motifs. In this context, too, the reference to “Ashkenazic Jewry” it is not always correct. This custom is actually followed by the Jews of Western Europe and Italy, as well as most European Sephardic communities, including most Turkish and Balkan communities, the Jews of Morocco as well as some Algerian Jews.