The parchment used for a Mezuzah is not ordinary parchment, but is the hide of a Kosher animal. From the very first stages, the hide must be processed with the intention that it is for the sake of the mitzvah, or commandment. The main ingredients of the special ink used by the Sofer are gall nuts, or the gallic acid derived from these nuts, gum Arabic, a resin substance, and copper vitriol, a bluish stone which gives the ink the blackness required. The gall nuts and resin are cooked in water for about an hour. Then the vitrol is added and the mixture is boiled until half remains.
Many scribes have their own special recipe to make their custom ink.
The writing instrument used for the mezuzah must be a quill from a kosher bird - goose or turkey. The tip is carefully cut so that by turning the pen and varying the pressure, the Sofer can write thick as well as very thin lines with one stroke. Over 200 artists collaborate to exhibit and promote their art so that a wider population can appreciate and understand the beauty and warmth of Hassidic Jewish art. Come and enjoy. A special visit to our own Passover Matzah Bakery is an example of seasonal highlights which enhance this tour of our community.