Sufficient space must be left between words¹ so that they may be distinguished, and between letters so that they be not mixed. If the letters were mixed up or a break made in the middle of a word, the scroll must not be used for the lection in the statutory services.

footnotes: ¹ lit. ‘between name and name’.

[It is permitted] to insert between columns two letters from a long word, but not from a short one. If, however, [the part of a longer word forms] a short word on its own,² (he will reign) the last two letters can form an independent short word lak (to thee). it is forbidden [to insert it between the columns].

footnotes: ² e.g. in a word like yimlok

In a Torah scroll the space of two finger-breadths must be left [between columns], but in scrolls of the Prophets and in those of Pentateuchs³ a space of one thumb-breadth [only].

footnotes: ³ Intended for ordinary reading or study, and not for the public lections.

In the lower margin of a Torah scroll the space of a handbreadth is left, and in the upper margin two-thirds of a handbreadth;⁴ the upper margin must be three finger-breadths wide. but in scrolls of the Prophets and Pentateuchs three finger-breadths in the lower margin and two finger-breadths in the upper. In all these cases⁵ if it is desired to extend [the margins] this may be done, provided they do not exceed [the space of] the written matter.

footnotes: ⁴ lit. ‘two parts of a handbreadth’. This is also the reading of V and M in Sof. II, 4. According to Men. 30a (Sonc. ed., p. 195) and H in Sof. loc. cit. ⁵ lit. ‘here and there’.

Between the books in a Torah scroll a vacant space of four lines must be left, and in a scroll containing the Twelve Prophets three lines. At the end of a scroll and at its beginning sufficient [parchment] must be left to wind⁶. V reads lehaḳim ‘to raise up’. [it round the scroll]. In a Torah scroll no limit has been prescribed, but a roller should be attached at the end of the scroll and there is no need to do this at its beginning.⁷

footnotes: ⁶ Reading with many authorities lehaḳḳif ⁷ This regulation does not agree with Sof. II, 5.

A sheet of a Torah scroll must contain not less than three columns and not more than eight. In the case of ḳelaf parchments no limit was prescribed, [62b] and one may add [as many columns] as desired provided only there are not less than three columns [to the sheet].

If one finished [writing nearly] all the book⁸ and one column of text remained, one need not hesitate to make of it a separate small sheet.

footnotes: ⁸ This refers either to one book of the Prophets or to several of them written in one scroll.

If a sheet [of a Torah scroll] is worn out, one may not remove two [columns only] and replace them by two new columns; but three columns should be removed and replaced by three new ones, and the new columns must be written in the same size as the original script.

The width of a column [in a Torah scroll] must be such as to be recognizable at one glance,⁹ and in a small scroll not less than a handbreadth. R. Jose b. Judah says: It must not be less than the width of three fingers.

footnotes: ⁹ Accordingly, not more than three Hebrew words, each of ten letters, may be written in a line. If the column is wider, the reader experiences difficulty in passing from line to line.

The height¹⁰ of [a scroll] must not be greater than its circumference,¹¹ nor its circumference greater than its height, but they must be exactly alike,¹² and this is the most correct procedure.

footnotes: ¹⁰ lit. ‘length’. ¹¹ When rolled up, so according to B.B. 14a (Sonc. ed., p. 67); lit. ‘its width’. ¹² lit. ‘takes the middle course’.

A Torah scroll may not consist half of gewil [and half of ḳelaf, but it may consist half of gewil]¹³ If ‘although’ is altered to ‘because’, the text will make sense but will be contrary to the Rule in Sof. loc. cit. and half [of the ḳelaf] of deers, although this is not the best procedure.

footnotes: ¹³ The words of this Rule enclosed within square brackets are added from Sof. II, 10, q.v.

[A tear in a Torah parchment sheet] may not be joined with glue, nor is it permitted to write on a patch, nor may [the sheets] be sewn together on the written side. R. Simeon b. Eleazar said in the name of R. Meir: [A torn sheet] may be joined with glue and it is permitted to write on a patch, but it is forbidden to do the sewing¹⁴ on the written side. If a scroll¹⁵ is torn, a patch may be placed on the outside.

footnotes: ¹⁴ So according to GRA, H and M in Sof. II, 11. V reads here as in Sof. ‘the writing’. ¹⁵ Other than a Torah scroll.