Badat’z Releases Letter Regarding Questionable Tefillin and Mezuzos, Arranges An Expert To Review
The Bai Din of Crown Height has arranged an expert in safrus to join the community each week and review Tefillin and Mezuzos that come from a questionable Sofer in Ukraine.
The experts visits were announced in a letter to the community on Friday.
Free Translation
Beis Din of Crown Heights
BH, Friday, Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5785
To Whom It May Concern
Following our letter of 4 Shevat last year, regarding the kashrus of Tefillin and Mezuzos written by Mr Yaakov Shlomo Itzkowitz (from the town of Zinkiv, Poltava region, Ukraine),
Whereas it is known to us that Tefillin and Mezuzos written by the aforementioned are still present in the market (the blame for which rests squarely with the sellers and dealers in Stam, whose sacred duty it is to guard diligently against causing the many to sin ch”v¹) —
It has been decided by us for the public good to arrange on behalf of the Bada”tz an expert in Sta”m, who will sit in the Beis Din office every Wednesday between 5 and 7 pm. There will be an opportunity to bring him tefillin and Mezuzos to clarify (among other things) whether they were written by the aforementioned.
Similarly, one may phone the Badatz on their regular number (718) 604-8000, extension 7. Pictures can be sent for inspection via WhatsApp at (347) 522-2050.
Due to the seriousness of the matter, we hereby repeat our warning that it is appropriate that one finds out the name of the Sofer who wrote a given mezuzah or pair of Tefillin before making a purchase, in order that one should at least be able to clarify that individual’s Yiras Shamayim (as explained in our previous letter).
And may it be His Will, that in the merit of being appropriately careful with the Kashrus of Sta”m — we should merit to see the fulfilment of the promise “And all the nations of the world shall see that the name of G-d is upon you and they will fear you”, “And Evil you will finish off with smoke”, and may only kindness and good find us all our days, in a revealed and apparent manner, with the true and ultimate redemption by our righteous Moshiach, literally right now.
HaRav Avraham Osdoba
Member of the Beis Din
HaRav Yosef Yeshayah Braun
Member of the Beis Din
1) It is appropriate to quote here from a proclamation that the previous Rebbe signed, that was published in connection with the founding of the Shomrei Sta”m in Poland organisation in Warsaw 1935.
