In today’s day and age, virtually every kosher product available to the consumer comes with a hechsher. By hechsher, I mean an official and recognised rabbinical body or agency that certifies the kashrus of a product, be it a food item or a religious article. Hechsherim play a vital role in providing consumer confidence, and something branded by a reputable kashrus agency will be considered more legitimate than a similar product that does not. The agency has rigid policies and protocols in place to ensure correct standards are met, and they are independent of the manufacturer so that there is no conflict of interest. As we have discussed on this forum previously, there is a distinct lack of official hechsherim on Sta”m products - Tefillin, Mezuzos and Sifrei Torah. Even the Vaad Mishmeres Sta”m, the oldest and most well- known rabbinic agency in the Sta”m world does not certify products. They test and ordain sofrim and magihim (examiners), offer a computer checking service (sp...
Hi Mordechai,
ReplyDeleteThis appears to be a corruption of the Massorah in which there are lists that call for the MEM of VETIHARTIM in Nehemia 13:30 to be written small. You should also know that there are competing traditions which call for the TET of Vetihartim to be written small, instead.
Among some of the sources for the small MEM in Nehemia are the Machzor Vitry and Okhla ve Okhla. There are no massoretic sources for R. Yosef Tov Elem's assertion. As such, he may have just confused one for the other.
Shalom R. Alberto - thanks for your insight.
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcome.
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