Gevil

Gevil (often transliterated "gewil") is animal hide that has been prepared as a writing material in Jewish scribal documents, in particular a Sefer Torah (Torah scroll). Gevil is an ancient Hebrew word.

Definition of "gevil"

According to Jewish Law, a sefer Torah (scroll) must be written on gevil (to start with).

"Gevil" is parchment made from the whole hide, after the hair is removed. The precise requirements for processing "gevil" are laid by the Talmud, Geonim and Rishonim. They were reconfirmed as "the law according to Moses" by Maimonides, in his Mishneh Torah. According to law, the preparation of gevil hide must include salt, flour and "mey afatzim" (wasp residue/gall-nut water).

There are three qualities of parchment known to Jewish law. The other two qualities result from splitting the hide into two layers; however, there is some confusion about their identification. Others deviate from this process, and use modern chemical processes. However, some believe that this invalidates the parchment for scribal use.

According to the "Halakhot Gedolot", klaf is the inner layer, adjacent to the flesh, while "dukhsustos" is the outer layer, on which the hair grows. The same view is expressed in the oldest extant manuscripts and critical editions of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah and the Babylonian Talmud. This is also the same definition which appears in the minor Talmudic tractate called Sofrim. However, more recent authorities reverse the two descriptions, and many printed editions of the Mishneh Torah are "adjusted" to reflect this. The reason for this original adjustment away from the original definition is a mystery. Some suspect that copying errors are to blame. As a result, many have become confused, in terms of which side of any parchment should be used for writing. By using the full hide known as gevil, this confusion is totally avoided.

Uses of "gevil"

Maimonides wrote that it is the law transmitted to Moses on Mount Sinai that a Torah scroll must be written on "gevil", and that scrolls that are not prepared according to this method are invalid for use. (Maimonides, Hilkhoth Tefillin 1:14). According to Maimonides, the original authoritative Talmudic law requires gevil for all "kosher" Torah scrolls.

According to the Talmud (Tractate Bava Batra 14b and Gittin 54b), "gevil" existed during the time of Moses (approximately 1280 BCE); Moses is described as using "gevil" for the Torah scroll he placed into the Holy Ark of the Covenant. Elsewhere in the Talmud (Tractate Gittin 54b), there is testimony that Torah scrolls were written on "gevil".

Today, a handful of Jewish scribes and artisans continue to make scroll material in this way. However, the majority of Torah scrolls are written on "klaf", in their belief that the Talmud recommends (as opposed to requires) "gevil" and relates to the optimal beautification of the scrolls rather than an essential halachic requirement. Given the uncertainty about which layer of the hide is in fact the "klaf", there is a growing movement for insisting on a return to "gevil" in Torah scrolls - in order to avoid all doubts. Clearly, the antiquity of gevil (as the original practice) is not being debated by anyone.

Most of the Dead Sea Scrolls (200 BCE), found in and around the caves of Qumran near the Dead Sea, are written on "gevil".

Properly, "klaf" should be used for tefillin and "dukhsustos" for mezuzot. Once more, this rule is often relaxed in practice but there is a minority which seeks to return to the actual law.

ources

*Talmud, Bava Batra 14b and Gittin 54b
*Talmud, minor tractate Sofrim
*Halakhot Gedolot (a Geonic work from 743 CE)
*Maimonides/Rambam (1100-1200 CE): Hilkhot Tefillin (Laws of Tefillin) Chapter 1

ee also

* Klaf
* Sefer Torah.

External links

* [http://www.globaljms.co.il The Gevil Institute: Machon Gevil] The only online organization dedicated to the preservation of gevil.

* http://www.ccdesigninc.com/MishmeresStam/Leaflet.pdf