are these caf kosher?
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...
שאלת תינוק
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why I would not invalidate these KAFS.
ReplyDelete1. They retain there appearance, and cannot be confused with a NUN, especially since this is a Ketav Arizal where the Rosh of a NUN is written like a ZAYIN.
2. Although, the base of the letters appear narrow, the RASHIM have more than the SHIUR of a KOLMOS as can be seen when you compare to the ROSH of the NUN's in the same Ketav. As such, the width of the head, even in a Ketav Sepharadi, where one makes the head of a NUN like a VAV, when in a SAFEK one would make a She'elat TINOK.
3. Likewise, although the MOSHAV is a bit narrow. However, it is not that narrow as to appear like a RESH.
Therefore, I say that this KAF retains it's shape. However, if one is in doubt, they should not jump to invalidate it. Rather, the letter must be shown to a TINOK.
the lamed of lachem needs a shealas chacham if it has a sheur in the regel
ReplyDeletethe lamed of lachem needs a shealas chacham if it has a sheur in the regel
ReplyDeleteI think it's ok but definitely should be fixed.
DeleteI agree with Alberto only with the chaf of anochi , however lachem IMHO is a nun.
ReplyDeletethe lamed is kosher, sice most poskim disagree with the chidush of m"b. the Baruch Sheamar calls it a zanav