There is a substantial difference between Kashering and Restoring a Sefer Torah or a Megillah.
Restoration is understood as the repair tasks of the scroll and text based on a purely optical review of the entire parchment. with a relative depth .
In this way, a restoration guarantees, on the one hand, the structural integrity of the scroll (seams, repair of broken parchments, removal of traces of lime and dust, etc.) and the repair of the largest problems found in the text, such as stains that can be removed, erased sections, extraction of dust, lime and impurities, and especially the repair of letters that are worn or blurred. However, especially regarding this last item, it is vitally important to clarify that an optical evaluation is not sufficient to guarantee that 100% of the letters are repaired, since the reach of the human eye is relatively deep.
To ensure the scroll achieves its “Kasher” status, each letter must be perfectly formed, in its place, and not touch any other. This will require kashering immediately after restoration through a computerized check. With it you will be able to verify or dismiss original writing problems (such as neguiot or letters that touch each other, chaserot or missing letters, ieterot or extra letters, poorly formed letters, etc.) and at the same time you will be certain that there has been no no letters defective due to the passage of time, as happens with a restoration.
Once the Bedikat Majshev (computerized review) has been carried out, the Institution will obtain the report and the corresponding “heksher” (certificate of aptitude).
Not all Sifrei Torah or Megillot can be kashered but they can be restored. To determine what is feasible, a cursory review of each scroll must be carried out, after which the synagogue will receive a detailed status report. In this report we analyze more than 30 elements covering all aspects of the scroll: External issues, halakhic problems of its writing, emerging situations in the text, deterioration due to the passage of time, etc.
You can contact us and we will be happy to advise you.
