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Klaff Tanning question:
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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.
Rabbi Reuvain Mendlowitz clarifies his position on Ksav Chabad (and my final thoughts)
By
Rabbi Eli Gutnick
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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...

I just saw rav shtern writes that there is yesh lismoch even if it is a reish mamash though lechatchillah it should be fixed. I doubt though it's geder mehudar after such a shailo even after fixing - not that it make a difference in this case where the entire ksav is not geder mehudar.
ReplyDeleteThere is not problem with this. In general there is a machlokes if the tzurah of Kuf is Chaf and vav or reish and nun (sofit). For some marei mekomos, see the Mikdash Me'at on Kuf.
ReplyDeleteObviously, these parshios are anyway not mehudar, but if there were a sofer who intentionally wrote that way, based on a mesorah or minhag that he learned, I can't see why it would be a lack in hiddur.
It would not be mehudar because there are a number of noteworthy poskim who say its possul as a reish - I am not with my seforim now but I can quote them to you next time I go online
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ReplyDeleteEven if the kuf is meant to be a reish and nun-sofit, the leg isn't even that.
ReplyDeleteIt makes no difference. According to the other opinion it is a chaf and a vav and yet we make it like a zayin or nun sofit. The minimum shape of the leg to be kosher is just a straight line. All the rest is al pi kabbala but not meakev.
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ReplyDeleteThis case is clearly as Aaron mentions. Although the Alpha Beta establishes that the shape of a KUF resembles that of a KHAF + NUN; there are others like the Maguen David who describe it as resembling a RESH + VAV.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we have upon whom to rely in justifying the above shape, LeCHATECHILA we invalidate it as it is. However, we must correct it, and add a base to the RESH, transforming it into a KHAF.
In the above, there is no SHELO KeSIDRAN as according to some poskim the original RESH + VAV shape of the KUF is valid.
The interesting thing here is that according to some poskim, we must show it to a TINOK. Why would a Sofer need a TINOK if he can recognize that the shape is there anyways?
Likewise, others require SHEELAT HAKHAM. why ??? What is the need? Your insight is appreciated.