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.
I've been looking for years - never successful.
ReplyDeleteIf you find it anywhere please let me know! I'll do the same...
I got my copy via virtualgeula.com, which hunted it down for me. Cost around $100 US, I think.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I want a copy of zichron eliyahu. I found the 2 volume version of תפלה למשה also very good.
ReplyDeleteWhile Tefillah Lemoshe (just one of his works on tefillin) is very detailed and broad, it's not intended as halachah lemaaseh while Zichron Eliyahu is, at least according to Rav Elyashiv (unless stated otherwise).
ReplyDeleteI've heard that they're working on a Zichron Eliyahu 2.0.
ReplyDeleteA few ZE kuntresim were put out - one specifically on Shins and R' Gitman's son put out another one, which I haven't seen.