The National Police Department of Israel gave Machon Ot a challenge. There
are many torah scrolls stolen each year and dealers of torah scrolls have
no way of knowing if the torah scroll they are dealing with is stolen or
not. There is no way to identify a stolen torah scroll as the Atzei Chaim
and cover is discarded. We at Machon Ot are aware of another problem as
well. Someone donates a torah scroll for a synagogue to use. After many
years no one knows which torah scroll was donated by whom. The covers are
often switched and new Atzei Chaim may be put on the torah scroll.
We, at Machon Ot, did a two year study, examining the writing of over 2000 hand written religious documents. The purpose was to determine if we could create a program that the computer could recognize the writing of any particular Scribe without any marks on the torah scroll itself. Not using holes or invisible ink.
Though unable to identify the particular Sofer we are able to identify the torah scroll. Each torah scroll becomes an entity unto itself. No two will have the same identity. Every torah scroll can be identified with 100% certainty through this system.
The following is a letter from Israeli Police to Machon Ot, regarding Ot's method for identifying stolen torah scrolls (english translation after image):
English Translation:
Identification of Torah Scrolls
1. Machon Ot presented before me their system for identifying torah scrolls.
2. I was very impressed by the system and it's efficiency. I witnessed that through this system it is similar to giving an identifying "fingerprint" to each torah scroll. After the torah scroll is registered there are no remnants of the identifying process remaining on the torah scroll.
3. This system allows us to identify stolen torah scrolls and to prove ownership.
4. This system also gives the Police the opportunity to identify the owner of the torah scroll quickly and restore it to the owner.
5. For your perusal:
Yours truly,
Rami
Mor - Lieutenant Colonel
Head of Department of Security