I received this question via email. I am not really a klaf expert, I was wondering if anyone could answer this question: Dear Rabbi Gutnick, I am writing to you because a good friend of mine has put the idea into my head that the klaf in my tefillin were not really tanned and therefore are not kosher. He referred me to Megilla 19a re diftera. From the research that I have done so far, it seems that the klaf that is used today is tanned only with a lime wash. On all of the tanning websites I’ve seen so far, they say that the lime doesn’t accomplish tanning but only the removal of the hair and some other pre-tanning effects. Would you be able to explain to me or refer me to a website that explains how the tanning process that is used today takes the hide out of the category of diftera? Thank you very much.
Sorry, my autocorrect put shkoyach instead of shkiyah, I've changed it now
ReplyDeleteIf within the shiur hameakev you need to suggest they put them on again and out of the shiur it's worthwhile suggesting to anyone who wants to be yotzeh lechatchila.
ReplyDeleteFor both my benefit as well as others who may read this, what is the shiur hameakev you refer to?
DeleteThe shiur hameakev is what is wrapped around the arm till the end of the finger three times in the most stretched out way. On the shel rosh which drapes (from the right side) till the navel and from the left side which drapes till the chest.
ReplyDeleteSee Shulchan Aruch HaRav 33:6.
If I remember correctly you may stretch the retzua and do the three crichos however if he wrapped his arm , and the three crichos were done with posul retzuos ,he should put on again.
DeleteThe shiur hameakev for the shel rosh is the part that goes around the head, the knot plus 2 tefachim.
ReplyDeleteWhile bedieved the shel yad should be long enough to wrap around the arm and 3x around the finger, if, bshaas hadchak, one only has enough to wrap around the arm and tuck it in to hold in place or, lo aleinu, one does not have a lower arm, he fulfills the mitzvah. Wouldn't this then be the shiur hameakev?
Thank you. at any rate, most white marks are around or near the kesher. So in such a case, I should tell the customer to put on again, assuming it is the same day and still before shkiyah
ReplyDelete