Here is an article I wrote recently....comments and feedback appreciated...feel free to reproduce etc
How about the Bais of Uleovdo?
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Not a "khaf"
This gave me a "Safrut smile"... OK, I realise that this is not Ktav STaM, however it is interesting what happens when graphic/font Hebrew becomes too stylised. Case-in-point, a colleague and I were visiting the mayor's office in the Gaza Belt region of Shaar HaNegev (adjoining Sderot). He is new to reading Hebrew and pronounced the welcome sign as " brooning " or " broobing " (instead of the intended " brookhim ". I replied that he was more correct than the graphic designer, as the letter meant to be a " khaf " was closer to a halakhic "Nun" or "Bet", and had this been Ktav STaM, the letter would likely be considered pasul as a "Khaf".
shin in "Alter Rebbe" script
Both the Shulchan Aruch Harav and the Mishnah Brurah use similar terminology when describing the importance of the shin being "pointy" on the bottom and all three branches of the letter shin meeting at a point or "chad" at the bottom of the letter. There is a strong foundation in Halacha for this and for the bottom of the shin to be flat like a moshav (base) is considered questionable (Pri Megadim) and definitely not Kosher Lechatchillah. It is worse if the moshav is very wide, but it is still questionable if it is lechatchillah if there is a thick noticeable base rather than a chad. Even for Sephardim, who lechatchillah make an angular base, it is still important that the base is indeed on a (significant) angle. If the base is flat, even if all three branches of the shin come out of the base connected , as in the top picture, it is problematic. It is worse in the bottom picture below where the right head/ branch comes out of the right part of the base and the m
Nice article. Enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeletegood article.
ReplyDeleteI've expressed my opinion about the mezuzah cases in a recent post. I think the quality (made in Israel) all weather, white, Lucite cases are overall the best due to their color, plug vs screw, ability to breath through the indirect hole in the plug and the fact that they are spacious.
Are aluminum cases not used by those who are makpid on the opinion not to use metal cases?
Many are makpid even with aluminium.
DeleteSome also don't allow silver cases. I'm not sure if this is correct
Many are makpid even with aluminium.
DeleteSome also don't allow silver cases. I'm not sure if this is correct
Concerning silver and gold mezuzah cases, the Daas Kedoshim suggests that it was always avoided due to the concern that the cases would be stolen. However many in practice do not use any type of metallic mezuzah cases even if there is no concern of it being stolen (See Nesivim Bisdeh Hashlichus vol. 1 p. 94 that brings this practice in the name of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; See also Pischei Shearim 289:86- who quotes this practice in the name of the Skolia Rebbe).
DeleteThe Keses requires the sides of the retzuos to be black. The all black retzuos often have this so, while we don't pasken like this, this is a small halachic advantage over the regular retzuos.
ReplyDeleteAlso, at least in Israel, the all black retzuos cost only a bit more than the regular retzuos so here the difference in price is mostly insignificant and the fact that the all black retzuos will likely last much longer makes the few extra dollars well worth it.
Shkoyach, R' Eli.
ReplyDeleteI would possibly add two things that I've come across:
1) Something about your local Rav and checking mezuzos. I can't tell you how many times people here have told me that their shule Rav (who I know is not a sofer, let alone magiha) has checked their mezuzos, etc. Perhaps could be worked into Myth 2 somehow?
2) The "But I bought it in Israel" claim. I know that most sensible, frum people know you need to buy from a reputable place, but a large majority of non-religious people have no clue...
The bought in Israel claim is a shocker. I plan on posting something soon about that
Delete