A sofer STaM writes and inspects the letters a household depends on: tefillin, mezuzot, Torah scrolls, megillot and Judaica articles. A single cracked letter can render tefillin unfit, which is why periodic inspection matters.
Vanilla Market lists sofrim with their tradition of script, what they write and inspect, and how to reach them — including home inspection of mezuzot.
Tips for choosing a professional
Have mezuzot checked twice in seven years
That is the customary interval. Humidity and sunlight damage parchment faster than people expect.
Ask for the script tradition
Beit Yosef, Ari and Vellish are different traditions. Match the script to your family custom.
Buy tefillin with documentation
A written certificate of the parchment and the sofer is what makes a later inspection meaningful.
Frequently asked questions
How often should tefillin be inspected?
Roughly every few years, and immediately if they were exposed to water, heat or a knock. Daily-use tefillin wear faster.
How much do kosher tefillin cost?
Prices range widely by script quality and parchment — commonly 1,500 NIS for basic sets up to 6,000 NIS and beyond for mehudar work.
Can a mezuzah be inspected at home?
Yes. Many sofrim come to the house, remove the parchments, inspect them on the spot and reaffix them.