Welcome to the website for Rabbi Kevin Hale. Rabbi Hale is a trained Sofer STaM, a Torah scribe. His work focuses on evaluating and restoring sifrei Torah, writing, and teaching about our sacred scribal traditions.
Rabbi Hale is an engaging teacher and speaker; he loves to bring his passion about Torah and the sacred scribal traditions to congregations, havurot and schools and ignite others’ interest with his enthusiasm, knowledge and hands-on style. He is equally skilled at engaging young children, teens and adults.Rabbi Hale’s work includes:
- Evaluating and restoring sifrei Torah
- Writing Torah, megillot, and mezuzot
- Torah appraisal for insurance and other purposes
- Buying and selling Torahs and mezuzot
- Conducting Siyyum Ceremonies (completion of Torah and dedication)
- Leading of services and lifecycle events (all aspects, from basic to traditional)
Commandment 613
The 613th commandment to write Torah is addressed to all the Jewish people. As a dynamic service leader and teacher, Rabbi Hale draws in people of all ages and backgrounds, to activate within each of us our potential as Torah scribes and to attune our eyes and hands and hearts to this most essential but often unknown or misunderstood Jewish mitzvah.
In 2016, the Czech Memorial Scrolls Trust entrusted Scroll # 795 to Congregation Beth Israel in Media, Pennsylvania. Scroll #795 formerly belonged to a synagogue in Prostéjov, Moravia. Beth Israel then hired Rabbi Kevin Hale to restore the Torah. Rabbi Hale’s cousin Miriam Lewin, a filmmaker, recorded Rabbi Hale’s work on the Torah and with members of Congregation Beth Israel, and released the documentary film “Commandment 613” in 2020.
Traditional Practice and Progressive Thought
Rabbi Kevin Hale can work with you to meet your programming and Torah work needs, offering a wide range of services from short workshops to full scholar-in-residence weekends or week-long rabbi trainings on basic soferut repair. He can often combine Torah appraisal and educational programming into one visit. Torah appraisal can happen on-site or in his studio. For more information, please contact his office at 413-587-0506 or email:
Or feel free to use the contact form.
Rabbi Hale honors, and is respectful of, the multiplicity of Jewish congregations and practices. He has worked with every kind of congregation and community, including: modern orthodox; reform; reconstructionist; conservative; independent, and minyanim.