Magiah Training

This comprehensive course provides participants with the in-depth knowledge and expertise – both halachically and technically – required to work as a certified magiah (checker), fully capable of checking all types of STa”M.

The role of the magiah is one of the least known in the STa”M production process, but it is one of the most critical. Most people believe that a sofer can both write and check STa”M. However, these are actually two very different skill sets. We can loosely compare it to the difference between an author and an editor – one writes, the other checks and edits. The author does not claim to be a skilled editor, not does the editor claim to be a skilled writer. In a similar sense, a Sofer is taught how to write STa”M. But he lacks the training and knowledge possessed by a Magiah – to not only identify potential problems in the writing but also know how halacha requires us to handle each problem. Some problems can be fixed, other can’t. And even those that can, must be fixed in a precise manner, mandated by halacha (note: some, albeit very few, Sofrim also work as a Magiah). As the Shulchan Aruch writes (OC 32:21), every item must be checked two, ideally even three, times. Being as how a Sofer should not be relied upon to check his own work, in addition to the fact that he is not trained as a checker, this worked must be done by a properly trained and certified Magiah. Even with the introduction of the computer checking software in the 1980’s and the subsequent technological upgrades that STAMP has played a leading role in developing, this cannot serve as a substitute for the manual checking done by the magihim. Every community needs a local certified STa”M professional. To achieve this goal, STAMP is offering this online, all-encompassing training program to equip as many communities as possible with a top-notch, STAMP-certified Magiah.