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There is a mitzva to write a holy Torah scroll using a quill and black ink. When writing, the scribe (sofer) must have the holy purpose in mind (“for the holiness of the Torah scroll”). When writing each divine name, he must do the same (“for the holiness of the name”). The scribe must be very exacting, ensuring his writing be both aesthetic and precise, following the traditions as to how the letters should be formed. A Torah scroll with even one mistake is invalid.
The holy Torah scroll must be written on the skins of kosher animals processed with this holy purpose in mind. This hints at an important idea. Animals are coarse physical entities, and their most external part is their skin. Everything in the world, no matter how lowly and superficial, has a role to play in revealing Torah and sanctity. Nothing in this world is disconnected from Torah.
The writing in a Torah scroll has four elements. First are the letters. Any deviation in the writing of even a single letter invalidates the scroll. Second are the crowns that appear above some letters. Third and fourth are the vowels and cantillations, which are not actually written in the Torah scroll, but remain oral traditions. When the Torah is read in public, the vowels and cantillations provide guidance how to pronounce and chant the words, respectively.
The scribe must ensure the letters do not run into each other. Rather, every letter must be surrounded by white parchment. This teaches us an important lesson. The black letters represent everything the human mind can understand and express. However, there are also some ideas too deep to be expressed by language, yet they inspire us and give meaning to everything we do understand. This is what the white parchment around each letter represents. Furthermore, the background of the white parchment makes the black letters more visible. This teaches us that our understanding of the familiar comes to us indirectly from what is beyond our consciousness. This is an amazing facet of the Torah: while its source is heavenly and beyond us, it reaches down to us and guides us in our daily lives.
