Rabbi Reuvain Mendlowitz, has recently released the book, “Inside Stam: A Complete Buyer’s Guide”. This sefer, as its name implies, is an unprecedented and outstanding presentation of all Sta”m related issues. Among the topics covered is the purchase of tefillin, the manufacturing of klaf, the construction of battim, along with detailed explanations on where mezuzos are needed (and where they’re not!) and this all done by answering in great details dozens of the most popular STA”M questions that people ask. There is also a Sefer Torah buyer’s guide even.
These issues are presented and covered in a way that has not previously been covered in any other existing English work and the images, explanations, and really every thing are unparalleled. Truly a book for the kollel guy, the businessman, or just about anyone. It truly speaks to all of these levels. So run to your local book shop, the publisher, or Amazon and pick up a copy today!!
Hakhel has been sharing sections of his book which we are previewing below.
Question: I am willing to spend as much money as necessary to obtain the best STA”M possible. Should I search for a sofer who is a big yerei Shamayim (very God-fearing individual) or one with a very beautiful kesav (handwriting)?
Answer: This is an extremely difficult question to answer. Let us examine the case for both sides in order to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.
§ The argument for choosing a sofer with a beautiful kesav:
1) Who are we to judge someone’s level of Yiras Shamayim?
A Rav told me that he was once asked by his father (also a well-known Rav) to buy tefillin parashiyos for him. After some effort, he narrowed it down to two sofrim – one sofer was a bigger Yerei Shamayim while the other had a nicer kesav.
The Rav’s father said immediately, “I’ll take the nicer kesav.” He then proceeded to explain: “How do you know that Sofer A is a bigger yerei Shamayim than Sofer B? This is something that is impossible to really know. However, if Sofer B has a nicer kesav, that is a fact.
2) Even when buying STA”M from a great yerei Shamayim, you might not be getting what you want.
For instance, certain sofrim who may be considered by many to be true yerei Shamayim sometimes can form their own halachic opinions. Some may not understand that when someone is spending “mehudar” money, they would like to receive a product which is mehudar according to all recognized opinions, not just the sofer’s.
3) Not every yerei Shamayim is a good sofer.
I was once asked to check the beginning of a Sefer Torah which was in the process of being written by a ‘mekubal’. Unfortunately, the Sefer Torah was a complete disaster! Aside from the kesav, which looked almost childish, there were many halachic problems with the letters as well. The overall appearance was so awful that when part of the Sefer Torah was shown to a particular Rav, he blurted out, “Why, it’s not even fit to dance with on Simchas Torah!”
The way to judge this mekubal favorably is by recognizing that he was very old, and apparently did not realize to what extent his writing, which was once on par with average sofrim, deteriorated.
In any event, these are three reasons why choosing a sofer who is a big yerei Shamayim may not necessarily ensure that you will receive a quality STA”M product.
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