Tikkun (book)
Encyclopedia
A tikkun or tiqqun is a book used by Jews to prepare for reading or writing a Torah scroll. There are two types of tikkun, a tikkun kor'im and a tikkun soferim.
from the Torah
in a Jewish synagogue
. Each tikkun contains two renditions of the masoretic text
in Hebrew
. The right side of each page is written with the cantillation
marks and vowel points, while the left is written in unpointed Hebrew, as it is written in the actual scroll. People who chant from the Torah must learn the tune and the pronunciation of the words beforehand, as the scroll itself has neither points nor cantilation marks, and since there are places where the word to be read (the Qere) differs from that written (the Kethib
) in the scroll.
(scribes' tikkun) is similar, but is designed as a guide for scribes writing a copy of the Torah by hand. It contains additional information of use to scribes, such as directions concerning writing particular words, traditions of calligraphic ornamentation, and information about spacing and justification. For instance, it helps the scribe to know how many letters there are per line, so a tikkun soferim gives the size of each line, measured in yud
-widths (because yud is the smallest Hebrew letter).
Tikkun kor'im
A tikkun kor'im or tiqqun qor'im (readers' tikkun) is a study guide used when preparing to chant the Torah readingTorah reading
Torah reading is a Jewish religious ritual that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a Torah scroll. The term often refers to the entire ceremony of removing the Torah scroll from the ark, chanting the appropriate excerpt with special cantillation, and returning the scroll to...
from the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
in a Jewish synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
. Each tikkun contains two renditions of the masoretic text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
. The right side of each page is written with the cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
marks and vowel points, while the left is written in unpointed Hebrew, as it is written in the actual scroll. People who chant from the Torah must learn the tune and the pronunciation of the words beforehand, as the scroll itself has neither points nor cantilation marks, and since there are places where the word to be read (the Qere) differs from that written (the Kethib
Kethib
Qere and Ketiv, from the Aramaic qere or q're, and ketiv, or ketib, kethib, kethibh, kethiv, , also known as "keri uchesiv" or "keri uchetiv," , refer to a small number of differences between what is written in the consonantal text of the Hebrew Bible, as preserved by scribal tradition, and what...
) in the scroll.
Tikkun soferim
A tikkun soferimSofer (scribe)
A Sofer, Sopher Sofer SeTaM, or Sofer ST"M is a Jewish scribe who can transcribe Torah scrolls and other religious writings such as those used in Tefillin and Mezuzot.By simple definition, a sofer is a copyist, but in their religious role in Judaism they...
(scribes' tikkun) is similar, but is designed as a guide for scribes writing a copy of the Torah by hand. It contains additional information of use to scribes, such as directions concerning writing particular words, traditions of calligraphic ornamentation, and information about spacing and justification. For instance, it helps the scribe to know how many letters there are per line, so a tikkun soferim gives the size of each line, measured in yud
Yodh
Yodh is the tenth letter of many Semitic alphabets, including Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew Yud , Syriac and Arabic...
-widths (because yud is the smallest Hebrew letter).
Resources
- The Kestenbaum Edition Tikkun: The Torah Reader's Compendium (ISBN 1-57819-313-3) – Complete tikkun with pointed Hebrew, unpointed Hebrew, plus English translation and commentary.
- Tanakh on Demand – On-line PDF's in Hebrew of any Torah section, including option for tikkun format.
- Navigating the Bible II – Online version of the Hebrew Bible, including tikkun format of a few verses at a time, and audio of cantillation.
- ScrollScraper – An online tikkun for an arbitrary excerpt of Torah verses, leveraging the bible.ort.org infrastructure.
- Mechon Mamre – Innovative online 'tikkun', with vowels and cantillation appearing and disappearing with a mouse rollover.