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...
Rashba, Avnei Nezer, Radach. Maybe Chayei Adam.
ReplyDeleteWriting Tagim together as you write the letters Gr"a.
ReplyDeleteNo negiahs at all at any time of the ksiva, do not know the makor to this but I heard it is called Brisker chumra.
The only ink which is mehudar לכולי עלמא is Dio Lanetzach.
ReplyDeleteדיו עשן למצוה מן המובחר שאינו נפגם ואינו נפסל
To have all the Chumrot you must make sure that there are no poskim who say on the ink that it is Possul. And it must comply with:
"ספרים בעינן דבר המתקיים לעולם" (רשב"א), "שיתקיים אלפי שנים" (רמב"ם), "עיקר מעלת הדיו היינו שהוא דבר של קיימא" (צמח צדק), "אין כותבין ספרים רק בדבר המתקיים לעולם" (אבני יעקב). י
If you want to be extra mehudar, Dio Lanetzach is also available with 100% עשן שמן זית
mikva before writing each shem HaShem
ReplyDeleteThis is something which is not so simple, although I hear that many mekubalim are in favor of. See Sheari Teshuva 32:3 it is most proper to write all the tefillin parshiyos (the same applies to mezuza lichora) without making a hefsek, there reffering to dibur, but unless one has a mikva in their home how will they not speak at all.
DeleteOf course the Sheari Teshuva is referring Lichatchila.
What is R" Moshe's opinion on mikva before each Shem Hashem?
Here are some hiddurim you may want to consider:
ReplyDelete1) Making sure the ibbud of the klaf was done lishmah for mezuzah (without one fits all tenai)
2) if you make a negiya, even one which is not shinuy tzurah, wait until the ink dries, erase most of the letter so that there is no tzurah and rewrite properly
3)Don't talk or listen to any audio during writing
4) If ksav Arizal - besides for making the tagei lamed right higher than left, make the ches with right side of chototeres thicker than left side.
Besides for Tfillin,Is there a Makor that a Mezuza should be written without a Hefsek?
ReplyDelete