How Much Does a Torah Cost?

For synagogues and Jewish communities, obtaining a new Torah scroll is a sacred yet expensive endeavor. Known in Hebrew as a Sefer Torah, the price of these handwritten scrolls containing the first five books of the Bible starts in the thousands and climbs well into five figures.

In this guide, we’ll break down the costs involved in commissioning a certified kosher Torah scroll from trained scribes in Israel and abroad. You’ll learn what comprises the price of materials, scribal work, and inspection/certification.

We’ll also look at ways synagogues budget and fundraise to cover the substantial investment a Torah scroll represents.

Highlights on Torah Scroll Costs

To summarize, the key points to remember about Torah scroll pricing:

• A new Torah scroll costs $15,000 to $70,000+ (≈2.2 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop) depending on materials, artistry, and embellishments.
• Parchment, ink, mantle, posts, and silver adornments are major material costs.
• Expert scribal labor requires 9-12 months, commanding $15,000 (≈5.7 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour) or more.
• Certification, proofing, and inspection prevent errors but add expenses.
• Fundraising efforts and donor support enable synagogues to commission Torahs.

How Much Does a Torah Cost?

When you buy a Torah Scroll, be ready to spend anywhere between $15,000 and $70,000 (≈2.2 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop) or more, depending on the type of Torah you're getting and where you're getting it from. Here are some price examples:

• Basic Kosher Torah - $15,000 to $25,000 (≈9.5 months of continuous work at a $15/hour wage)
• Standard Torah - $25,000 to $40,000 (≈1.3 years working to pay for this at $15/hour)
• High-End Torah - $40,000 to $70,000+ (≈2.2 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop)

Here are the factors that influence the overall investment:

• Materials used - calfskin, ink, wood posts, etc.
• Number of lines per column
• Size of text
• Level of calligraphy artistry
• Any customized elements like silver Torah crowns

For most US synagogues, budgeting $25,000 to $50,000 (≈1.6 years of uninterrupted work at $15/hour) allows commissioning a respectable Torah. Larger metropolitan congregations with 1,000+ families often acquire high-end Torahs costing $70,000+ (≈2.2 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop).

Costs of Materials For a Sefer Torah

The materials that comprise a Sefer Torah account for a significant portion of the price. These elements include:

• Parchment - Made from kosher animal hide. Costs around $10,000 (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary) for a full scroll.
• Ink - Special ink formulated to strict standards. Adds approximately $1,000 to $3,000 (≈1.1 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour - more than most exam periods).
• Mantle - Embroidered covering for Torah. It can range from $1,000 to $20,000 (≈7.6 months of employment at a $15/hour wage) based on ornamentation.
• Wooden Posts - Hand-carved posts called Atzei Chayim cost around $1,000 to $2,000 (≈3.3 weeks trading your time for $15/hour).
• Silver Elements - Silver crowns, pointers, breastplates, and bells can add $2,000 to $10,000+ (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary).
• Transportation - Import fees to ship the scroll from Israel range from $1,000 to $3,000 (≈1.1 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour - more than most exam periods).

So materials alone often comprise $15,000 to $40,000 (≈1.3 years working to pay for this at $15/hour) of the total expense of a high-end Torah.

You might also like our articles about the costs of circumcision, conversion to Judaism, or hiring a wedding officiant.

Scribal Work and Proofreading Costs

The intricate scribal work involved makes up a significant portion of a Torah scroll's price. In general:

• Sofer's Base Fee - $7,000 to $20,000 (≈7.6 months of employment at a $15/hour wage) depending on experience and reputation.
• Per Letter Fee - Some Sofer charge an additional $.50 to $1 per letter, adding thousands.
• Proofreading - Review by a second Sofer costs around $2,500 to $5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour).
• Corrections - Any edits found during proofing add $100 (≈6.7 hours of continuous work at a $15/hour job) per correction typically.

A top expert Sofer with flawless calligraphy skills commands premium pricing starting at $15,000 (≈5.7 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour) for their work alone.

Kosher Certification and Inspection Costs

To ensure a Sefer Torah is perfectly written and kosher, inspection, and certification costs apply:

• Computer Scans - Scan the entire scroll digitally for errors - $500 to $1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour).
• Proofreading - Painstaking hand proofing by a second Sofer - $2,500 to $5,000 (≈1.9 months of your working life at $15/hour).
• Certification - Kosher certification by a supervising Rabbi - $500 to $1,500 (≈2.5 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour - more than most exam periods).

While tedious, a comprehensive inspection ensures the scroll is flawless before the dedication.

Tiferes.com provides custom-written Sefer Torahs with prices ranging from $24,000 to $55,000 (≈1.8 years working every day at a $15/hour wage), depending on the consistency and beauty of the writing style (Ktav).

Alljudaica.com offers both new and used Torah scrolls, with the cost of a new scroll ranging from $28,000 to $45,000 (≈1.4 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop), and the cost of a used scroll ranging from $12,000 to $20,000 (≈7.6 months of employment at a $15/hour wage).

Mezuzadepot.com lists a used Sefer Torah for sale at a price of $14,500 (≈5.5 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour), significantly lower than the cost of a new Sefer Torah, which is typically between $30,000 and $100,000 (≈3.2 years of continuous work at $15/hour).

What is a Torah Scroll?

First, let’s cover some background on the Sefer Torah. In Hebrew, Torah refers to the first five books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. A Sefer Torah is a parchment scroll containing the entirety of the Torah written in Hebrew by a trained scribe known as a Sofer.

Torah scrolls contain the 613 commandments and are the focal point of services in synagogues, where they are housed in the Ark and read during weekly services. These sacred scrolls take many months to complete according to strict religious laws and requirements. Now let’s look at pricing.

How Long Does It Take to Produce a Torah Scroll?

From start to finish, a qualified Sofer requires 9-12 months of meticulous full-time work to handwrite a complete Torah according to the law.

Rushing the process risks errors, so experienced Sofrim allow sufficient time to carefully compose each section. Patience is required when commissioning a Sefer Torah.

Typical Torah Scroll Commission Process

The commissioning process for a new Torah scroll generally includes:

1. Synagogue forms a Torah committee to oversee and fundraise.
2. Scribe is selected and contract signed detailing specifications.
3. Materials like parchment and posts are purchased and delivered to the Sofer.
4. Sofer begins writing scroll section by section over many months.
5. Sections are proofread periodically for corrections during the writing.
6. Completed scroll is scanned and proofed thoroughly for certification.
7. Corrected final scroll is hand-inspected by the Rabbi.
8. Scroll is shipped and prepared for dedication and first use.

While a labor of devotion, the meticulous process produces divine results worthy of celebration.

How are New Torahs Funded by Synagogues?

Given the high costs, funding a new Torah scroll requires extensive synagogue budgeting, fundraising outreach, and donor support. Common approaches include:

• Special appeals to members who dedicate sections in honor of loved ones.
• Crowdfunding campaigns publicized online and via mailings and events.
• Grants from family foundations and private philanthropists.
• Allocating reserves from the synagogue’s capital budget over multiple years.
• Seeking an anonymous matching donation to encourage giving.
• Partnering with the Sisterhood and religious school families on special campaigns.

The process of acquiring a new Torah brings the community together in a shared cause.

Is an Older Used Torah More Affordable?

Used antique Torah scrolls that need restoration can sometimes be acquired more affordably. However, expect to spend:

• $5,000 - $10,000 (≈3.8 months working without a break on a $15/hour salary) to have the scroll properly examined and repaired.
• $20,000 (≈7.6 months of employment at a $15/hour wage) or more to refresh faded letters and replace any damaged sections.

By the time restoration costs accumulate, a used Torah often ends up costing as much as commissioning a new one. But the heritage is meaningful.

Final Words

While certainly a major expenditure, a new Torah connects past generations to the future and brings the community together through tradition. The devotion culminates in sacred handwritten works that will uplift the congregation for centuries.