zayin - is anybody machshir?
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...
I ran into this once when layning - Sefeikos Hasofer said she'elas tinok, as I recall, but I'm at work and the sefer is in my apartment (obviously, don't remember his sources off the top of my head.) Will check later, IY"H.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Sefekot HaSofer - Ot Zayin #7 - "One can see it's a Zayin" because the right side of the head is at an angle. One must however first show it to a Tinok in order to correct it by adding a bit of ink and squaring it off.
DeleteConversely, when the foot descends from the left edge, even though there is a small ZAVIT, whe invalidate it as the ROSH needs to pass over both sides of the foot, and here that is not the case. As such, we hold that the letter does not maintain its shape, and we invalidate it.
DeleteSefekot HaSofer - Ot Zayin # 4
thanks
ReplyDeleteThe first zayin is close to the opinion of the Yereim etc. that the heads of שעטנ"ז ג"ץ should have 3 corners--i.e. shaped like a diamond not a square.
ReplyDelete