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...
בדיעבד בלבד
ReplyDeleteAnd according to minhag haolam? (i.e. average Ashkenazi customer)?
ReplyDeleteAnd is a magiha obligated to check for this in a random tefillin examination by poking and prodding and potentially ruiniung ribuah???
(Not saying it shouldnt be done - I do it plenty. But is it obligatory? Late Rabbi Zirkind for instance said not, in a personal phone call with one of the major poskim in Chabad who called him in my presence. The Posek's opinion was not to as well).
M"B holds that glue in bottom third is advisable if it will hold ribua better.
ReplyDeleteTZanz is very Mach mir but he also hold tat if it spreads then the אויר is not מצטרף.
ReplyDeleteThe rov prudos batim marketed by the various batim makers under hechser are sold as mehudar.
ReplyDeleteAnyone checking tefillin must be familiar with the signs of false charitzim and check when there's a chashash.However, to check in general is risky as the ribua can be affected. Also, if one intends to do so he needs to inform the customer of the risk and also that the nice paint finish will be affected.