Interview with Scribe Julie Seltzer

Meet the Museum's scribe-in-residence Julie Seltzer as she shares some of the mysteries and tools of her trade.

[@markbasham3624]

You are an inspiration to all who open their hearts to be of service to something larger than yourself and yes larger than a religious point of view.Your enthusiasm is tempered with humility. You are an embodiment of the love and grace the letters represent. Thank You!!!

[@thingsweneverdid3782]

Her writing looks so beautiful. She obviously takes her relationship with God seriously.

[@jcxkzhgco3050]

Not Sure if God asked to do Calligraphy though

[@aidengriffith8208]

They all do

[@christo-chaney]

@@jcxkzhgco3050 it’s not really calligraphy. It’s a highly specialized skill.

[@MegamikazeMoriko]

her writing is so perfect, it actually looks like it's printed but it's not printed!

[@yosefyahu4778]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ2ziZ6iotateMk

[@josiahcole3186]

It is printed! But printed by hand

[@christo-chaney]

@@yosefyahu4778 what does your video have to do with this scribe? Also I noticed that you’re using a Christian translation in it rather than a Jewish one.

[@shirleyjones4161]

She does beautiful work! I'm in awe!

[@jrbserious87]

This video has 11years now which I just discover. What a Beautiful art and the discipline that requires all this is amazing. Shalom

[@jcortese3300]

She talks about her quills the way I've heard oboists talk about their reeds. :-) They will tell you about That One Reed they had that time in September 1979 as if it were the Hope Diamond ...

[@seenoahart]

Julie I think that what you are doing is amazing, and your work is beautiful, and not just in appearance but also in spirit! I have just started learning Hebrew. Currently I'm working on the alphabet and pronunciation. What you are doing is very inspiring to me. Thank you very much for putting this video out. May you always be blessed by God.

[@redfern03]

Thank you Julie. Watched this as part of an online course. Beautiful work and beautifully presented.

[@MsCiocia]

For all those whose heads are spinning out of control, you might want to watch "Soferet: s Special Scribe" about Avieleh Barclay who is an Orthodox soferet. The film speaks at length about how scribes are trained and recognised under halakah.

[@christo-chaney]

@@uridavis2037 where exactly does the Talmud make that claim? Don’t just say “the Talmud says” as it has 2,611 huge folios. And the smallest Talmud sets are close to 30 volumes.

[@saberaattar5807]

Astonishing! All the hard work there is involved and so much attention that is paid to the intricate details in drafting this sacred scripture.

[@ffairchildd]

Who else came here for the great writing style... not for religious youtube arguments?

[@JayPersing]

me

[@Amzezk]

me too

[@TCtherapist]

Yo Jeff what's up...Just like you understand that when buying a car you can't put the beautiful windshield blue waters into the gas tank. ....so to when your brought down to earth whether you agreed or not...your bound to listen to the Devine law....if your jewish...if not you have only 7 laws ....who's luckier. ...depends how you look on to life.. jewish religion does not tell Anyone to be jewish if they're not....not like other religions...where they need Man power and if they don't have people. ...the religion is gonna fall apart. ...like thousands of religions through out history, Jewish law no, cause it's promised by God that jews will never perish, how do you know if a religion is true....if they have a prophecy. ...the torah is the only religion in the history of the world to have thousands of prophecies, others ...not even one....so be good dude....look at my other post...b good....

[@thingsweneverdid3782]

Me hehe

[@izzuccoch9123]

dude the new testament has prophecies too in the book of revelation by the prophet John.

[@corbettroberts]

Thank You for all your doing and for sharing it with us!

[@vanadiumV]

Shalom from Morocco ! Hebrew letters are fascinating & charming i love them !

[@jesusgutierrezbolanos5560]

Wonderfull work!! God bless your hans and you ministry!

[@danielstewart9539]

Magnificent! I am an elder Christian man who loves our Judeo-Christian God and His Word. Your art form and commitment to transmitting God's Word through your calligraphy touches my heart. Thanks be to God for the Massorites. And their mathematical precision in counting letters and words page by page. Absolute precision in honor of God and His law. Why? God's word is life. Thank you for sharing your art. Thanks be to God! Your Christian brother, Daniel

[@r.mercado9737]

Learning and much patience! Thank you so much!

[@alezakulp1742]

Julie is amazing!!!! She is so talented!

[@SheilaghRiordan]

There is no information on the musical track. I would love to know what it is. It's beautiful. Julie is inspiring.

[@Braglemaster123]

The music is Urlich Rassy, Cellospheres and Brass ‘ It’s written if you look at the Video Information .

[@paulbreslin6952]

Absolutely beautiful writing, I am envious. Paul

[@benstimpson1947]

I'd be interested to know where this torah went and it's adventures 10 years later

[@chaimrubin2538]

I love being a person of The Book. I love The Book. Love the people of the Book. I love our people, our land, and our culture. Our food is really awesome too. I see this video is 9 years"old" but still very well done. Hope you are still loving this craft and have become an acclaimed soferet.

[@johnnyarm3181]

And how bout people not of the book?

[@fewbuthappy5455]

@@johnnyarm3181 That's a great question. I'm Jewish, and I wish that more Jews were comfortable confronting what you are questioning. If love isn't for everyone, then it isn't for anyone.

[@julio-iz3sk]

💛 just made my day, thank you

[@user-kw9ww6wi3u]

This is fabulous. In my mind, I could do this all day but reality is a different story. Still, I love the talent and inspiration you share. My goal is to write out Kaddish for my son on art work. One day.

[@rax-annvillarico2268]

I admire you as a scribe,Shalom!

[@ruiz460]

Everything about this video is insanely enjoyable. Anyway you can upload an hour long video in HD of you completing a page or so?

[@luzrsjulson1409]

I am soooo proud of you. I am amazingly happy. 👏❤️🤗🎻

[@alexismex1]

Thank You for sharing it with us! Beautifull work , talented , la luz de sus ojos reflejan su conexión con Dios ,Saludos from Mexico.

[@thecjmsf]

It took the soferet about a year and four months to complete all 62 sheets / 248 columns / 10,416 lines / 304,805 letters :)

[@yongpolna7316]

הספר תורה הזה פסול, אין מה לעשות עם זה. וזה אסור לאישה לכתוב ספר תורה. ה' ירכם. זה חילול ה' גדול. מאוד עצוב

[@christo-chaney]

I would love to read from this Torah in a synagogue service that she scribed.

[@uriel7203]

​@christo-chaney one wouldn't be allowed to say a blessing on it. The Torah says that only those who are obligated to put on Tefilin are qualified to write a Sefer Torah that can be used for ritual purposes. Now I know what you are thinking: "That's just a made-up rule by Orthodox MEN! DOWN WITH THE PATRIARCHY!" Well, ypu know all those rules she mentioned? Woth how the letter are formed, the scoreing on the sheet, the tradition of the Torah, etc. Those rules were made by the same MEN who said that women can not write a Torah for ritual use. So stop with the hypocrisy.

[@demeterontheinternet]

I am so happy to see more diversity in who is completing mitzvot in line with what they are able to complete. It’s a beautiful thing. Every tradition across the world can give you wings, or anchor you down. I love it when the wings come to be. 🪽🪬

[@kellye2013]

Such a miraculous and beautiful tradition.

[@ej1722]

Keep up the good work Julie👍!!

[@rschuyler]

Would love to know the music from the background

[@JORDIIMusic]

What a feeling she must have being part of a literary tradition which literally spans thousands of years!

[@tanskiclaudius]

Phantastisch ! Wunderschön ! Danke !

[@alexvalle7023]

Awesome! Thank you for this video. Where did you get the hat? I want one like that. Thank you

[@pamelabergnerbergner5093]

Thank you ❤️

[@therandeydenyah]

Beautiful...I love you! Thank you..

[@vanadiumV]

shalom from Morocco to that Woman !

[@r.mercado9737]

Your spoken language is beautiful!

[@widlsalexis4319]

That's so beautiful!

[@miraciajeannoute7275]

wow that is so wonderful and that is a lot of work. Baruch Hashem

[@jonhenning]

I couldn’t do it. So greatful for those who do.

[@andymiller2454]

How do I find a teacher? Are you available? I am serious about this. Any information you could provide would very much appreciated Thank you!

[@vlisdero]

Im sorry you didnt get an answer. I have the same question! Where is Julie doing now and does she give lessons?

[@petarkandic3566]

I've started making my own copy at home, feels relaxing

[@coffee-vk2tv]

Have you finished it?

[@thechariotcard]

Which birds are allowed to contribute toward a quill?

[@isisphlyx]

is admirable what u are doing. interesting to know what u are doing.

[@knoxvillehermitfreemoviesm3625]

Who was the most prolific scribe of all time I can't find it.

[@biblistapercaso]

where you can buy a scroll to be able to write?

[@Paquillixtli]

You can buy vellum and partchment in peltry stores in order to make your own scrolls. Another option is to buy them online.

[@hughmungus99]

Enrique Jesús Arroyo Alcántara u have the greatest name ive ever seen (is it hispanic?)

[@Paquillixtli]

Thank you, Anon! Yes, it is

[@biblistapercaso]

Can I know the website's shop name?

[@yosefyahu4778]

I don't know why, But I cried watching this video.

[@russkiydeutsch990]

Amazing

[@radicalbible]

Mazel tov! The whole video is a prayer to Ha-Shem.

[@elisabethgelb7347]

We heard that for Kosher Klaf, the writing inside the Mezzuzah, canNOT be erased. The scribe must start again.

[@philipquinn5536]

Can I ask one question is the Torah written in modern written Hebrew ??

[@sheva9231]

That's wonderful, where is she from?

[@alexshatil2318]

Your work is beautiful!! I would love to buy Teffillin parchments from you. So you sell?

[@aharonwellts5276]

+Alexander Saltiel Teffillin from her can't be kosher! Women can't write Tora. Period. There is halocha!

[@kevindonohue2912]

There is also halakha that a community leader can write a Torah, and a woman can be a leader in her community.

[@doctornadlan5333]

There's no halakha you write about!

[@blackcitroenlove]

Maybe for Ashkenazim lol---then again, you forgot your Middle Eastern ways long ago. So glad I'm Sefardi.

[@user-kf9oz3sg9l]

This is such a stumbling block for it won't be kocher according no tradition and Tora is all about tradition

[@jd4evr2001]

Wondrous : Beautiful ♪

[@jameslawrencewirth]

I love seeing a Isha witing Torah! Hashem bless your every stroke of the pen!

[@user-pn1ok6qv1e]

I fell in love with this lady❤❤❤

[@WilliamW2010]

Printer: Am i a joke to you?

[@user-dd9sh2lh5i]

No you don't understand... only an adult jewish man can write the torah

[@WilliamW2010]

@@user-dd9sh2lh5i Because? the words on the page don't change by what writes it

[@user-dd9sh2lh5i]

@@WilliamW2010 Yes they are, it"s only holy if an adult man wrote it.

[@WilliamW2010]

@@user-dd9sh2lh5i Even tough there is no way to detect the difference

[@jesusarellanoperez3197]

I'm a Gentile who is thinking about learning to read, write and speak Hebrew. Anyone know where I can learn to write like this?

[@christo-chaney]

Check out Mastering Hebrew Calligraphy by Izzy Pludwinsky.

[@Lianam09]

Hello Julie, I love your work! it truly is a wonderful expression of your love for G-D. i was wondering if none Jews can become scribes?

[@christo-chaney]

If a non-Jew writes any of our sacred texts we cannot use them. But maybe it’s alright if a non Jew can write say a scroll of Ruth for example…or another book of Tanakh that isn’t used for ritual purposes like a Torah. Look into scribal work as a hobby and see where it takes you!

[@mosesgummadi]

0:49 Torah has 304,805 letters. But if you add two inverted nuns, then 304,807 is both a prime number and an emirp.

[@redfire20003]

Beautiful script😊

[@michaelserebreny454]

An interesting Gilgul, to say the least.... the wheel always turns...

[@elisabethgelb7347]

She said Ritual Bath, but the translation ERRONeously said Ritual 'death'.

[@motog4-75]

Ok not gonna discuss the male/female issue of whether she can or can't write, but Julie if you read this just wanna say I paused at a certain point & as also being a Soifer, I noticed that your letter "mem"s are not formed correctly. So if I am not mistaken I think the book of Esther you are according to all parties allowed to write, do try & fix that.

[@michaelsterling3502]

So cool! Am Yisrael Chai!

[@The-Shayar]

MashaAllah Sister very nice,

[@SwissAmbush]

How many hours a day and where do u get the pen and ink?

[@racerx1326]

pen is either bamboo reed or feather from bird (kosher preferrable) like turkey. ink is special ink from sofer.

[@manorrd]

This is just like the graffiti artists, whose work is everywhere in most Western big cities, only without the colour. Very cool.

[@OrangeOceanOctopus]

How do you stomach all the violence?

[@VideoGrabaciones2010]

Amazing! Don't give up. There is nothing in the Torah that prevents you, Julie, from serving as a soferet. In fact in the time of Ezra there was probably a soferet.

[@ivok9846]

2:00 i thought jews keep their women in high regard, but...

[@mms923]

A woman is forbidden by Torah law to write a sefer Torah tefilin and meuzuot

[@armandodane4588]

I have to Agree with you an this one Jewdicris did speak out of line, I wish he reads your comment full of wisdom. Shalom.

[@MinecraftGypse]

I'm a Muslim and I believe in my ALLAH and Moses as his prophet may peace and blessing be on him! I have to say Hebrew is a beautiful language the way it's written it's fascinating I LOVE IT the way the quill moves and the flow of the ink it's AMAZING AND FABULOUS!!!!!

[@simonwilliamnoelmurray9179]

Why do you hate Jews?

[@jordanwalker8323]

You idiot Allah means God. Fool

[@christo-chaney]

@@simonwilliamnoelmurray9179 apparently he doesn’t hate Jews if he’s saying positive words about a Jewish woman and Jewish texts.

[@simonwilliamnoelmurray9179]

@@christo-chaney Being a Muslim and following the Qur'an means that you must hate Jews. As they must be forced to pay the jizya or otherwise be subservient to the Islamic State.

[@christo-chaney]

@@simonwilliamnoelmurray9179 not according to the local Muslims I know. I’m Jewish and have been in their mosque for Friday prayers numerous times. I even wear my yarmulke there and they refer to me as cousin.

[@williamestepa4600]

i wanna A Calligraphic Pen To

[@gretelhansel1184]

i came here because of The God culture series...please watch the Solomon Gold here in you tube.

[@user-xu8nu7jb1h]

Zion Rose!

[@miloransdell6779]

I wonder how many she's made since then?

[@HelloHello-fn3bn]

Yeah that looks like its printed. Btw do handwritten English books that look like that count as legitimate books and be put up in the shelves?

[@CDGMR1]

Wow

[@daniyelnahman8240]

חזק וברוך-✡

[@natilevia6794]

כתב יד מושלם!

[@chadwaldron3568]

I have practiced letters so many times and it doesn't look nearly as good as yours. If yours is an A+ then mine is a C-.

[@motog4-75]

Ok at 4:10 the mems look a bit better than before, but some of the other letters are not balanced nicely.

[@Ihsomiet]

I'd like to do this, but I'd to do the whole bible, including the Aramaic and Greek sections, but I don't know how to read or speak them, and I'd like to understand it.

[@xoxlove6101]

It's only the first 5 books, that are only in Hebrew

[@christo-chaney]

@@xoxlove6101 actually the Tanakh is mostly Hebrew with some Aramaic. The Jewish Bible isn’t just 5 books. We have 24.

[@xoxlove6101]

@@christo-chaney ספר התורה הוא רק 5 ספרי התורה, שאר התנך לא נכתב בספר תורה.

[@christo-chaney]

@@xoxlove6101 you’re Hebrew grammar needs some work. You used the masculine “he” for it when Torah is grammatically feminine. So it should have been the feminine “she” for it. Also you didn’t pay close enough attention to what I said above. The Torah Scroll is the Five Books of Moses but the Tanakh which includes the Torah is a total of 24 books. If the Tanakh doesn’t include the Torah then why is it called Tanakh rather than just Nakh? Check out what the full acronym of Tanakh stands for.

[@xoxlove6101]

@@christo-chaney תעשה לי טובה, סתום אלא אם כן אתה יכול להראות לי שאתה יכול לכתוב בעברית

[@TCtherapist]

to all you out there. ...and to just reply to you guys...the difference between Jewish law vs. all other 400+ other religions. ..that btw all took from the torah what they thought makes sense. ...anyway, the difference is that all the laws were given on Mount Sinai by Moshe Rabeynu. ..as says in Berachot first chapter...which was written 2200 years ago, which was learned and recited 1500 years prior from the time of Moshe Rabeynu. So if you believe that the oral Torah is part of the written Torah then you don't have a problem. ...the Reform and Conservative movement do not....they pick and choose what they Think is right according to what Time leads them to understand. Obviously , this young woman , although being a very nice individual, she's doing a very big Sin. Obviously not knowing that Hashem commanded Moshe Rabeynu all the laws we have in the Oral Torah. All the laws that were thought of by the great Rabbis of different generations the Rambam says 900 years ago that these Great Rabbis thought of how to preserve the Oral Law and therefore through time together with 120 of the biggest Rabbis and Prophets and with the acceptance of All of the jews at that time , made laws that would preserve the Torah ...which is Written and Oral ..btw Rambam says after the second Temple this stopped because there no more Devine presents. ..just to understand that there is NO possible way to know what is written in the Torah unless you go to the Oral Torah and see what it means...almost All of the 613 laws are totally meaningless without the explanation of what it means ...even the logical laws are impossible to know exactly what to do, like honoring your parents, which sounds understood. ...when learning the Oral Torah you understand that you don't understand anything. So...do not take the law into your own Hands...even with a quill. ...regards to all.

[@petarkandic3566]

God bless Serbia Amen, the Balkans, the World

[@V-zc5vf]

Ero convinto che uno scriba potesse esserlo solo un uomo!!!

[@TheSpaceCulture]

This woman is awesome for (1) continuing doing what she loves (2) despite countless sexist and bigoted remarks against her.

[@sighermike]

Say what you will about her being a woman, she has beautiful lettering.

[@daniyelnahman8240]

✡0547115488✡✡

[@EasyRashi]

Can a women write a Kosher Torah? how about Tefilin?

[@christo-chaney]

Apparently they can…this one sure did!

[@christo-chaney]

I converted to Judaism recently and I would love to learn this amazing skill.

[@ivok9846]

didn't you see they don't even let their women do this? 2:00 what chances do you have?

[@christo-chaney]

@@ivok9846 who says a convert to Judaism can’t become a Sofer?

[@ivok9846]

@@christo-chaney they, the orthodox jews. if i just said they don't let women do it, you're still not getting it? their, jewish women which they'll surely rank higher than you... but thanks for clearing the meaning of sofer surname for me! (as in nir sofer)

[@christo-chaney]

@@ivok9846 so if a convert to Judaism is considered a Jew in every respect then what source says a convert cannot become a sofer? Also what do you mean by saying “their women, who they’ll surely rank higher than me?”

[@ivok9846]

@@christo-chaney we already established they don't let women be scribes. following that notion of someone belonging to the 'tribe' not being allowed to write bible, what chances do you, a stranger, have? go ask rabbi, you'll tell me if my grasp of tradition was right... you can take this a step further: if you were a gay, or lesbian convert, would your chances fall or rise?

[@jdub2378]

So she cannot write but every two week because of purity laws, assume that she’s allowed to scribe at all

[@christo-chaney]

Halacha says that a Torah cannot contract ritual impurity.

[@christo-chaney]

@@uridavis2037 what source? Halakhah isn’t just one book.

[@torahproject6186]

He/she is not a Jew who is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision that only to the flesh. But he/she is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the spirit of Hashem! and their praise is from Hashem and not from men!

[@christo-chaney]

I know you’re quoting from the Christian New Testament. It’s not authoritative for us.

[@torahproject6186]

@@christo-chaney thank you for being respectful. I was not trying to offend, the principal still very much applies.

[@christo-chaney]

@@torahproject6186 the principal doesn’t apply at all. Jews have disproven the New Testament as authoritative for numerous centuries. A later text that contradicts what God clearly says many times to Moses and the prophets cannot & will not ever be accepted. The principal will never apply no matter how many times Christians insist on it.

[@torahproject6186]

@@christo-chaney shalom

[@mohammedalsulaiti8676]

i have a50meter scroll of torah made of skin of animal hand writing very old for sale

[@sighermike]

Although women are NOT oppressed in Judaism, to call someone a sub-human puts you into the category of ignorant. Remember, this is how Hitler justified the killing of so many Jews, they were classified as sub-human. You are wrong to make such a statement, and I'd bet the Rebbe wouldn't stand for such accusations. To call someone ignorant of Halacha is one thing. But ignorance and stupidity are NOT hand in hand. An ignorant person is someone who is not aware.

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

Why would you even say that? Who called anyone sub-human?

[@sighermike]

@@AlphaGeekgirl are you talking to me, from ten years ago??? My comment was in response to either something said in the video or replying to someone else's comment that may or may not still be there. That was ten years ago for F sake

[@sighermike]

@@AlphaGeekgirl now that i think about it, it was a comment some alleged Orthodox Jew wrote about her. It appears their comment is gone, maybe they were deleted for their ignorant comments. But again, that was ten years ago. To remember the details now is asking a lot.

[@TheSpaceCulture]

its not use talking to you

[@umbakkumakkai5407]

Gutten tag

[@yamyam2987]

Whut lol

[@shoam1365]

רק שכתב סתם של אישה פסום בגלל שנשים לא מחוייבות בסתם

[@TheSpaceCulture]

your comment is the disgrace to hashem!