Hasofer Given Rabbinical Approval

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Mordechai Levinshtein, a member of Beis Din Shevet Halevi in Bnei Brak and Dayan of the Sanz community in Netanya, recently met with the owner and reviewers of Hasofer in Crown Heights.

Hasofer’s founder Rabbi Moshe Klein set the meeting to dispel the highly critical accusations made by sofrim in Chicago that he and other merchants of Mezuzos, Tefillin and Sifrei Torah (“Stam”) are selling non-kosher scrolls.

The expose by Chicago residents R’ Moshe Dovid Wolf and sofer R’ Binyomin Rosenbaum said that out of 8 Stam vendors in Crown Heights, only one was to be relied upon.

Rabbi Klein brought for review “Mivtzoim Mezuzos” that are sold at a low cost and were claimed to be low quality, as well as the standard and mehudar scrolls that most clients ask and pay for.

In a letter following the meeting, Rabbi Levinshtein wrote: “I have checked all the Mezuzos and scrolls that have come before me, and they are kosher l’chatchila according to all Halachic specifications, regarding the form of the letters and in all other details.”

Commenting on Hasofer’s magihim Rabbi Feitel Lewin and Rabbi Michoel Alpren, he wrote in his letter: “I have seen that they are G-d fearing Chasidishe Yidden and fluent in the laws of Stam, exerting all efforts to give out Mezuzos that are kosher l’chatchila and they do their work faithfully.”

Rabbi Klein said that going forward, on every package of Tefillin and Mezuzos sold, Hasofer will include a photograph of the Mezuzah or Parsha signed and approved by Rabbi Levinshtein.

“This will affirm that he has seen this particular Mezuzah and Parsha and he approves that it is l’chatchila. Keep this photograph of the Mezuzah or Pardsha as a reference.

“At any time, if someone brings you a Mezuzah or Parsha that a Sofer checked and raised questions, you will see that this is the Mezuzah that you have a photograph of,” he said.

Rabbi Klein added that in such a case, he will send the questions to Rabbi Levinshtein who will rule on the matter.

“For the record, I would like it to be known that when merchants bring us new Mezuzos and scrolls, we carefully check if they meet our required standard and are worthy of being sold. In fact, most of the merchandise is returned because they do not meet the high standard that we sell.”

MEZUZAH GATE:
+ Lone Crusader Riles Sofer Stams
+ Letter Forewarned Cheap Mezuzos
+ Reacting to Mezuzah Controversy
+ Open Event Will Educate on Stam
+ Mezuzah Gate: What Happens Next
+ Stam Accuser Replies to Rabbis
+ Questions Raised on Machon Stam