Lots of mems like this. The customer is Temani. Is there any tzad to allow fixing?
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...
Hi Eli,
ReplyDeleteI am afraid there is no remedy for this one as it is lacking a MOSHAV. Any fixing would be considered LO KESIDRAN.
If he goes according to the Rambam in everything, seemingly one could be lenient. According to the Rambam, a letter only has to be legible to be kosher. וגם פשטות דעת הרמב"ם שאין דין "שלא כסדרן" בכלל וכמ"ש מרן הגרי"ז הלוי זצ"ל אבל צ"ע אם למעשה מנהג תימן היה לסמוך על זה כלל
ReplyDeleteThe opinion of all sofrim in our office is -this mem has no shape of mem and will be possul.
ReplyDeleteIt is not "legibly" a Mem: one could have asked if this can pass for a Ches
ReplyDeleteno moshav and a shinui tzura
ReplyDeleteOf course according to our Minhag it would be pasul. I am only suggesting that perhaps the Yemenites would approach the shaylah differently.
ReplyDeleteEven if you wanted to go that route, wouldn't it be a shailas tinok because it looks so much like a ches?
DeleteYes, of course.
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