The shape of the letter פ

Rabbi Greenfeld from Vaad Mishmereth Stam published an article showing that the letter  פ  can be written in the "right shape" and can be written in a "wrong shape" which was invented by a Sofer from Minsk. The title of the article is pretty harsh:

זיופי הסופר רא"ח שמאלעוויצער ממינסק

Here is the link:
http://theworldofstam.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post.html

And here is the article in larger format (easier to read):
https://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/88071125

There is reference to  משיכה לאחור  which is valid with ancient sources, and reference to a "broken פ "  which is invalid.  I could not understand the difference. Can somebody please explain?

Is this    
 

     the  "right" shape or the "wrong" shape?

Comments

  1. שלום ר' צבי
    סליחה שאני כותב בעברית

    התמונה הזו של פ' שהדבקת - היא סברת הסופר ממינסק [והעתיקו במשנת סופרים של המשנה ברורה] לפסלה משום שהיא שבורה.

    רבים אינם סוברים כן, אלא - בכלל אין שום פיסול של "שבורה" בעיקום קוי האות. ורק אם נשברה [נפסקה] הקו לגמרי, שהוא פסול ידוע

    ענין "משוכה לאחור" נזכר בבית יוסף, והוא שעקב הפ"א יוצא בצורה אלכסונית כלפי מטה [כמו שהפ"א בהרבה כתבים אשכנזיים ישנים, וכתב חב"ד בכלל] ולא שיציאת העקב ישר ימינה

    ReplyDelete
  2. שלום כב' הרב וינר
    אם האות פ עם הגב השבור היא המצאה, ויש אומרים פסולה, של הסופר ממינסק, אז למה כותבים אותיות פ כאלה בכתב חבד כמו למשל כאן? י

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-59g0KH2nOVE/VOnLeDu1PrI/AAAAAAAACYs/UNm9yDHUCJs/s1600/IMG_20150222_222031%2B%281%29.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rav Veiner is saying that the Sofer of Minsk "concocted" that this pei is a problem.
    While it is an extreme zig-zag, the correct way of writing a pei does indeed include some wave-iness in the back (as Chabad, Skver, and others do).

    This is what Rav Greenfeld is bemoaning. That the widespread way of writing a pei (with a straight back and a gash out of the inner side of the back wall) is a distortion. The way it was always written was indeed with a zig-zag of sorts (albeit not as extreme as in the image).

    ReplyDelete
  4. I believe that the Os Shavur is when a downward-moving line is broken in the middle like a cursive Zayin or like the middle part of a " 3 ", with a "Kotz" in the middle.

    Examples given in Rav Greenfeld's article are: (1) the left Regel of a Tav, (2) the line that descends from the left Rosh of a Tzaddik, rightward, where instead of a smooth Alach'son (curved or straight) going "southeast", it goes down (maybe even slightly leftward), then makes a hard corner, jumping back and reaching rightward, (3) the same with a Nun.

    We may extend this to a Peh. Most old, good Sifrei Torah had the Regel descend from the top right corner, then curve rightward SMOOTHLY, then down, rounding out the right "wall" by coming leftward, to create the Moshav. If, instead of a smooth rightward curve, it "hits a corner" downward (and lightly leftward), then jumps back (as stated, like a Zayin or a 3) rightward and somewhat upward ... THAT might be considered Sh'vura.

    I don't know that Sh'vura is Pasul. I'm simply attempting to define, what is Sh'vura?

    (Please forgive the extended descriptions. It's difficult to "draw" with words...)

    ReplyDelete
  5. RAV GREENFELD IS "DEFENDING" THE OLD PEY INCLUDING THE ONE YOU POSTED.

    ReplyDelete
  6. RAV GREENFELD IS "DEFENDING" THE OLD PEY INCLUDING THE ONE YOU POSTED.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is "פ משוכה לאחור"
      And there is "פ שבורה"
      My understanding is that R' Greenfeld defends the "פ משוכה לאחור"
      and objects to the "פ שבורה"
      I just don't understand what is the difference between them.
      What does "פ משוכה לאחור" look like?

      Delete
    2. the pay of chabad [as the one you showed from the blog] is: Meshucha le'achor, and not considered shvura.

      Delete

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