A place for English speaking sofrim (scribes), magihim (examiners), rabbis and vendors of Stam (Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzah scrolls) from around the world to communicate, share ideas, ask questions and offer support and advice.
I once spoke to R' Shammai Gross about this...He said the following (more or less) -
If the tefillin was not yet worn l'shem the mitzvah then they may be cut down. If it's the first time then possible to say like by cutting down the klaf of tefillin parshiyos or mezuzos that we are matir because we say the klaf was made with this tanai, then so to by tefillin possible after wearing it only once and realizing it needs adjustment that one could say it was made on this tanei and therefore may be cut to be made smaller. If this was only realized a month afterwards lets say then it is a bit harder to say then it was made on this tanai. However for those that are matir even in this case could be because the ratzuos are only tashmishe kedusha along with the fact that a tanai maybe was made and could even help in this case.
There is a Teshuva from R' Yochanan Segel Wosner in "Chaiyah Levi" I don't remember where it is. When/If I find it I'll post it...
The psak I have is that once worn they may not be cut. You have the chance to try them on before wearing for the mitzvah to see if adjustment is desired. Shortening in not necessary (it's a matter of comfort or a preference. However, if you'll trip over it or are tripping over it then they may be trimmed anytime. Similarly, if the end of the retzua shel yad is very worn and needs regular touching up then it may be trimmed off, assuming of course there is sufficient length remaining.
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.
Dear Readers and Members, The forum has been down for over 6 months because the domain name (www.stamforum.com) lapsed and it is no longer available to re purchase. Although this forum is now defunct (it has morphed into several whatsapp groups), I have had many requests to put it back online because it contains so much information (over 1,800 posts and thousands of comments in the discussions, on a wide range of topics related to STa"M). I have therefore put the forum back online at blogger, so the address is www.stamforum.blogspot.com. The forum lasted for a decade...not a bad effort! It was pretty popular back in the days before whatsapp and managed to receive over a million hits in it's short life. It was one of the only organised forums in the STa"M world and definitely the largest in it's heyday. I would like to thank all those who cobtributed over the years, particularly the early members who helped build it up. Thanking you all, Eli
I once spoke to R' Shammai Gross about this...He said the following (more or less) -
ReplyDeleteIf the tefillin was not yet worn l'shem the mitzvah then they may be cut down. If it's the first time then possible to say like by cutting down the klaf of tefillin parshiyos or mezuzos that we are matir because we say the klaf was made with this tanai, then so to by tefillin possible after wearing it only once and realizing it needs adjustment that one could say it was made on this tanei and therefore may be cut to be made smaller. If this was only realized a month afterwards lets say then it is a bit harder to say then it was made on this tanai. However for those that are matir even in this case could be because the ratzuos are only tashmishe kedusha along with the fact that a tanai maybe was made and could even help in this case.
There is a Teshuva from R' Yochanan Segel Wosner in "Chaiyah Levi" I don't remember where it is. When/If I find it I'll post it...
The psak I have is that once worn they may not be cut. You have the chance to try them on before wearing for the mitzvah to see if adjustment is desired. Shortening in not necessary (it's a matter of comfort or a preference. However, if you'll trip over it or are tripping over it then they may be trimmed anytime. Similarly, if the end of the retzua shel yad is very worn and needs regular touching up then it may be trimmed off, assuming of course there is sufficient length remaining.
ReplyDelete