Last week I posted some thoughts in response to a public lecture given by Rabbi Reuvain Mendlowitz regarding Ksav Chabad (the Alter Rebbe's ksav). I felt he did not represent the issue fairly, and since I had received questions about it from a number of people I felt it made sense to write a general response. After I posted my response on this forum, Rabbi Mendlowitz reached out to me by email and we ended up having a respectful and productive email exchange regarding the relevant issues surrounding Ksav Chabad. His position is a lot clearer to me now, and I think he also took certain things on board that I clarified with him. The purpose of the Stam Forum (at least back in it's heyday before all the whats app groups took over) was to connect sofrim from around the world, to promote achdus and build bridges, as well as to offer support and advice. In that spirit, I felt I should write a follow up post, to clarify some of the issues and misconception...
Nachman,the sad truth is that as soon as you start mass producing stam, it is hard to guarantee that everything is 100%
ReplyDeleteI personally check all mezuzos and parshiyos I sell. and I send a lot of stuff back, even if it is still kosher. If I started relying on other people I feel I would no longer be abe to quality control properly. Sure, I would sell more but it would only then be a matter of time until I would start to receive complaints and critcisim.
The rabbanim who give hechsherim know that in all probability the itmes they sell will be scrutinized by another sofer within a few years. when mistakes occur, and they usually do in mass production, they will get a bad rap.
In food production, no external examinations occur. so if a mistake happens they can cover up or find left field hetairim. No angry consumer will come knocking on their door 3 years later holding a parsha with a negiya, blaming all their life's ills on their incompetence.
yes eli you are correct however when i started selling i asked mishmeres stam why they will not give a hechsher-THE REPLY "SINCE THE KLAF HAS NO HASHGACHA WE CANNOT GIVE A HECHSHER"
ReplyDeleteBut now that most KLAF factories do have a HECHSHER why can't MISHMERES STa"M give a HECHSHER on MEZUZOS, PARSHIYOS ect.
ReplyDeleteI will refer the question to Rabbi Greenfeld from Vaad Mishmeres STa"M
ReplyDeletewhat would be the ideal hechsher
ReplyDeletewould the hechsher be including haga or a hechsher on the klaf sofer-has kabala etc still leaving the haga to the sofer -socher
Maybe both options with different color stickers.
ReplyDeleteWhat colors do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteGreen for Greenfeld
ReplyDelete