I received this question via email. I am not really a klaf expert, I was wondering if anyone could answer this question: Dear Rabbi Gutnick, I am writing to you because a good friend of mine has put the idea into my head that the klaf in my tefillin were not really tanned and therefore are not kosher. He referred me to Megilla 19a re diftera. From the research that I have done so far, it seems that the klaf that is used today is tanned only with a lime wash. On all of the tanning websites I’ve seen so far, they say that the lime doesn’t accomplish tanning but only the removal of the hair and some other pre-tanning effects. Would you be able to explain to me or refer me to a website that explains how the tanning process that is used today takes the hide out of the category of diftera? Thank you very much.
If the paper is very thick, you MAY be able to remove the dyo with a bowed razor blade held between your thumb and forefinger. Alternately, you could try scraping with a very sharp blade. I'd recommend the first method though, it's often possible to slice under the dyo without damaging the surface at all. Be sure to apply gum sandarac to the abraded area or the ink will most likely spread.
ReplyDeleteYou could also try an ink eraser gum. On paper, I doubt it's possible to make a perfect correction that will leave no trace.
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ReplyDeleteBowed razor blades do work, but on many thick art papers they will leave a very clear mark at the place of the correction.
ReplyDeleteAnother suggestion is to use a #10 x-acto blade (the curved one). Hold the blade perpendicular to the page and VERY gently scrape in one direction, not back and forth. It may take a white, but with care this can remove the ink even from thin paper. When done, go over the area with a white rubber eraser and then, as Binyomin rightly points out, dust with gum sandarac and rewrite!
What is gum sandarac? Would that be used on klaf as well? I was taught on klaf to lightly rub a white pastel/chalk on erased area to keep ink from spreading.
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