Can I have the publics opinion on this "End-Mem"?
Rabbi Reuvain Mendlowitz clarifies his position on Ksav Chabad (and my final thoughts)
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...
The left side is very square - I don't think this is an issue. It is kasher. You can ask a tinok, but I don't think this is a case of genuine safek.
ReplyDeleteOne must show it to a tinok.
ReplyDeleteI once wrote an article explaining why such a shailo is problematic for a shailos tinuk since the samech in many siddurim today that kids are used to are actually kosher as mem stuma
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I was thinking. I always have a hard time deciding, at what angle does it become problematic. I would be surprised if a Tinok would read this as anything but a Samech, since this is the Samech children are taught. The question is wheather this is technically Halachakly the case as well.
Deletethe mem should be asked by a tinok, since it is lechatchila incorrect. the mem should have been square, and a variation although slight, may not be accepted by a tinok.
Delete