Scribal Arts Workshops
Since 1994, Torah scribe Jamie Shear has led hundreds of hands-on workshops in Jewish day schools, synagogues, community centers, summer camps, museums and homes for the elderly. Participants of every age write Hebrew letters the way scribes have for thousands of years: with a turkey feather or reed quill and traditional ink, on real parchment.
Grandparents, parents and children all start at the same level, and everyone takes home their own work, with their name written in Hebrew by the scribe. Workshops are available in Jerusalem, on tour in North America, or as a one- or two-day Scribe-in-Residence program.
Now booking for January 2027: New York, Montreal, Ohio and Florida, with more stops possible. Contact me below to bring a workshop to your school, synagogue or community.
Hands-On Scribal Arts Workshop
Write Hebrew letters on real parchment with a turkey feather, reed or bamboo quill and traditional scribe's ink. Everyone takes home their work, plus their name written in Hebrew by the scribe. Perfect for all ages, families and Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations.
Scribe-in-Residence
One or two full days in your school or synagogue: classroom sessions through the day, a Shabbat talk, and a community workshop. I most recently served as Sofer-in-Residence at Maimonides School in Boston.
Ink-Making Science Challenge
Chemistry meets Torah: a STEM project with your science teacher. At Maimonides School, student teams made their own scribal ink and I judged it for blackness, flow and consistency. The winning ink was used to write the school's Mezuzah scroll.
Tefillin Experience for Bar Mitzvah Grades
A hands-on Tefillin Experience for Bar Mitzvah grades, in preparation for their Bnei Mitzvah: see how the parchment is prepared and the letters are written, look inside the boxes and straps, and learn the meaning behind every part. Students and parents come away understanding the Tefillin they will wear for life.
The Talmud on Writing Holy Scrolls
A text study of the Talmudic and halachic sources on how a Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzah are written. For Bnei Mitzvah age through adult learners.
Hebrew Letters and Kabbalah Art
A talk on the mysticism of the Hebrew letters and the Kabbalah paintings they inspire, with time for questions. A favorite for adult education, Hadassah and Federation evenings.
The Tefillin Experience
Tefillin are a miniature Torah you wear. For Bar Mitzvah grades I bring the real materials: parchment, quills, the scrolls inside, the batim and the straps. Students watch the parshiot being written, look inside an open bayit and learn the meaning behind every part, so they understand the Tefillin they will wear for life.
Where I Have Taught
Arts Ambassador for the Israel Ministry of Diaspora Affairs through OTS Amiel BaKehila, December 2019 and January 2023:
New Orleans, Louisiana
Slater Torah Academy · Jewish Community Day School · Beth Israel · Limmud New Orleans
Charleston, South Carolina
Addlestone Hebrew Academy · Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim · Minyan House (BSBI) · Hadassah and the Jewish Federation of Charleston
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Politz Day School · Congregation Sons of Israel · JCC Early Childhood Center
Omaha, Nebraska
The Jewish Community Center of Omaha and a local Jewish day school
Boston, Massachusetts
Maimonides School: two-day Sofer-in-Residence, including the ink-making science challenge
Hong Kong
Carmel School · Jewish Community Centre (JCC) of Hong Kong
Montreal, Canada
Akiva School · Hebrew Academy
Toronto, Canada
Schools and synagogues across the city
Jerusalem and across Israel
Schools, synagogues and communities all over Israel, family and Bar/Bat Mitzvah workshops in my studio at the Jerusalem House of Quality, and a nationwide Bnei Mitzvah Torah-writing project with the Masorti Foundation (2016–2017).
What People Say
“You enabled our community members to connect to Judaism through Jewish art, creating a memorable and meaningful connection both to their Jewish roots and to Israel.”
— Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum and Rabbi Reuven Spolter, OTS Amiel BaKehila (letter on joint letterhead with the Israel Ministry of Diaspora Affairs)
“Our boys are at the Bar Mitzvah age, and they now learned more about Tefillin than in all my years studying to be a rabbi. Thank you!”
— Politz Day School, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
“The evening and your work intersect everything: spiritual, intellectual, physical.”
— Hadassah evening host, Charleston, South Carolina
“We learned so much about how Torah scrolls are written. Thank you for coming to Cherry Hill and sharing your work and passion with us!”
— Congregation Sons of Israel, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
“Thank you so much, I learned so much. I want to do this much longer!”
— Student, Slater Torah Academy, New Orleans
Bring a Workshop to Your Community
Workshops are arranged personally. Email or call me with your school, synagogue or community, the age group and the dates you have in mind, and I will send you options.
Email: jshear@ktavtam.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +972-54-978-6233