thumb|Klaf - a parchment with an ink and quill

Klaf or Qelaf () is the designation given a particular piece of skin. The Talmudic definition includes both the form of the skin and the way it is processed, in particular, that it must be tanned. Since the innovative ruling of Rabbeinu Tam (12th century Tosafist) it is primarily used to refer to parchment or vellum. It is one of the materials upon which a writes certain Jewish liturgical and ritual documents.

Description and rules

is a specially prepared, tanned, split skin of a kosher animalgoat, cattle, or deer. Rabbinic literature addresses three forms of tanned skin: , consisting of the full, unsplit hide; and and , which are the split halves of the full hide. The rabbinic scholars are divided upon which is the inner and which is the outer of the two halves. Maimonides is of the opinion that was the inner layer and that was the outer layer.

The "Shulchan Aruch" rules in the reverse that was the outer layer and that was the inner layer.

There are halachic rules for the use of each of the three types of skin. According to Maimonides, Torah scrolls must be written on g'vil only on the side on which the hair had grown, and never on duchsustos (understood as the half-skin from the flesh side).

Intent

The parchment must be prepared "for the sake of use for the Divine act" and the processor must declare what he is preparing it for, as one cannot use destined for a "lesser holiness". Specifically, the tanning process must be done with the explicit intent of use for the holiness of Torah, tefillin, or a mezuzah. The tanner does this by uttering at the outset of the tanning process "For the sake of the sanctity of a Torah scroll, tefillin, or mezuzah", which are of "weighty holiness". If necessary, the scribe should state that he is preparing for the sake of a Torah scroll but that he may change his mind if he wishes. Some Rabbinic scholars say that a non-Jew may prepare it; however, a Jew must stand over him, directing him in his work and stating verbally that the preparation is for the sake of heaven.

Current production

Today there is a large amount of processed under rabbinical supervision, and the variety, quality, and quantity are increasing.

See also

  • Ktav Stam
  • Kulmus
  • Leather in Judaism

References

  • Hebrewbooks.org: The Tefillin Manual