By COLlive Staff
Nearly fifty years after the Rebbe sent a personal financial contribution to support Mishmeres STaM, the organization dedicated to safeguarding the kashrus of tefillin and mezuzos, a milestone has been reached: a Lubavitcher Rov now serves as a member of its global Vaad HaRabbonim.
Rov Menachem Mendel Kahn, recently appointed by the Crown Heights Beis Din as Rov for Safrus, has been named to the Vaad HaRabbonim of Mishmeres STaM HaOlami. For the first time, Chabad sofrim and magiyim can be certified under Vaad Mishmeres Stam — in accordance with the piskei dinim of Raboseinu Nesieinu.
A Legacy Three Generations Deep
The Chabad Rebbeim have always cared deeply about the quality of STaM throughout the world. This dedication stretches back generations, with each Rebbe investing enormous effort into ensuring that every Jew’s tefillin and mezuzos meet the highest standards of halacha.
The Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, was instrumental in the establishment of a global organization to oversee STaM quality—an effort that would eventually lead to the formation of Vaad Mishmeres STaM. Historical records in Yiddish newspapers from that era document the Rebbe Rayatz’s active involvement in strengthening oversight of sofrim in Europe shortly before the outbreak of World War II.
The Rebbe continued this mission with particular intensity. Following the tragic Ma’alot massacre in 5734 (1974), the Rebbe launched Mivtza Mezuzah, urging Jewish homes worldwide to ensure their mezuzos were kosher. This campaign reflected the Rebbe’s deep conviction that properly written mezuzos serve as a source of protection and blessing.
Rov Kahn has dedicated his life to this mission. As part of Mishmeres STaM’s operations in Eretz Yisroel and the United States, he has worked to prevent stumbling blocks and to promote the study and proper standards of sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzos. In his capacity as Rov in Crown Heights, he has been closely involved in global efforts to apprehend producers of printed mezuzos and other STaM fraud.
The Rebbe’s Personal Support
In the spring of 5738 (1978), when the Rebbe was informed that Mishmeres STaM had successfully encouraged many homes in Toronto to upgrade from small, often non-kosher mezuzos to large, beautiful, mehadrin mezuzos, he responded with a remarkable letter of encouragement—and a personal contribution.
The Rebbe wrote:
“With gratitude regarding the improvements in matters of tefillin and mezuzos which you informed me of. May it be Hashem’s will that you continue to share such good news in the future, and may the merit of the many stand you in good stead. As the verse states (Tehillim 119:63): ‘A friend am I to all who fear You, and to those who observe [shomrei]…’ Please find attached my symbolic contribution. I will mention your activities at the resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe.”
The Rebbe’s reference to the verse—connecting “Shomrei” (those who guard) to “Shomrei STaM” (guardians of STaM)—demonstrated his deep appreciation for the organization’s holy work.
The Chasam Sofer’s Mandate
The requirement for proper certification for sofrim traces back to the Chasam Sofer’s introduction to Keses HaSofer, the foundational text for the laws of safrus. There, the Chasam Sofer issued a powerful directive that remains relevant today.
The Chasam Sofer writes that after reviewing the sefer and finding it to be “beautifully arranged from beginning to end, with everything aligned to halacha according to the true path,” he issued a call to action:
“From this day forward, no one should grant permission or written certification to any sofer unless he is proficient in this sefer and fluent in its content… A sofer who is not proficient in this sefer should be disqualified from his craft. And he should review it periodically as needed… For the need is great, and allowing unqualified sofrim is a great stumbling block.”
This requirement—that a sofer must not only learn the halachos but be tested and receive formal certification (known as a Ksav Kabbalah)—has guided the standards of safrus for nearly two hundred years.
A Posek Steeped in Chabad Tradition
Rov Kahn brings a unique combination of deep Torah scholarship and practical expertise to his new role. From his early years in yeshiva, he set himself a goal: to locate and compile the halachic rulings of all the Chabad Rebbeim on every topic in Shulchan Aruch. Today, he serves as a Rov Moreh Halacha on the Crown Heights Beis Din.
Several years ago, he published Keses HaSofer im Piskei HaRav VehaTzemach Tzedek, a comprehensive compilation of the rulings of the Chabad Rebbeim on safrus. The sefer quickly became an essential reference for Chabad sofrim worldwide and has since gone through three editions. With the publication of Rov Kahn’s sefer, he became the address for shailos in all areas of STaM, with questions flowing to him from near and far.
This reputation has led to significant partnerships. Rov Kahn recently traveled to Eretz Yisroel, where he met with HaRov Hagaon Moshe Shaul Klein, the renowned posek and talmid muvhak of the Shevet HaLevi, to discuss the state of STaM in America and around the world. Their conversation covered various matters related to global education and other efforts to improve the quality of STaM worldwide. The meeting concluded with an agreement to launch Vaad Mishmeres STaM Chabad.
Rov Kahn also met with HaRov Moshe Pinchas Zander, one of the leaders of Mishmeres STaM, to discuss practical halachic rulings from the Alter Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek on how to produce STaM according to the Rebbe’s standard of “Kosher Bli Kol Pikpuk.” Rov Zander was deeply impressed with the dedication in Chabad—both in Crown Heights and in Ashdod—to producing a level of STaM that is truly “Lezchus HaRabim.”
HaRov Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Mara D’Asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, noted that “Rov Kahn’s appointment represents the fulfillment of a long time vision. Now Chabad sofrim can receive training and certification according to the piskei halacha of our Rebbeim.”
Rov Kahn’s dedication to broad consensus across the halachic world has been a hallmark of his approach. He traveled to Bnei Brak to present his sefer to leading poskim and received their warm approbations. His work has been widely accepted among Chabad Chassidim, Gerer Chassidim and other Chassidim alike, and even among sofrim who follow different halachic traditions.
Rov Kahn himself spoke about what this appointment means to him: “It is a tremendous zechus and chiyuv to serve in this capacity. The Rebbe’s vision was always that every Yid should have tefillin and mezuzos, kosher bli kol pikpuk. To play a role in actualizing that vision is a humbling responsibility.”
A Call to Action
With this historic appointment, several opportunities are now available to the Crown Heights community and beyond:
For Sofrim and Magi’im: Every sofer and mageiah working in the Crown Heights neighborhood is encouraged to come get tested and receive proper certification. As the Chasam Sofer insisted nearly two centuries ago, a sofer must be tested and hold a valid Ksav Kabbalah. This certification is now available through the Crown Heights Beis Din.
Weekly Shiurim: Two regular shiurim in safrus have been established in Crown Heights, with sofrim from around the world participating via Zoom:
- Monday evenings at 8:00 PM at Chevra Shas (followed by Mariv)
- Thursday afternoons at 2:00 PM at Shain Shul (following the 1:45 mincha)
For Zoom information, email [email protected].
Shailos in STaM: Community members with questions on any matter related to STaM are invited to bring their shailos to the Crown Heights Beis Din Wednesday evenings between 5-7pm, or call 718-604-8000 ext. 3. Shailos can also be emailed to [email protected].
For the General Public: When purchasing tefillin, mezuzos, or a sefer Torah, always buy from reputable sellers who employ sofrim holding valid certification. A Ksav Kabbalah ensures that the sofer has been tested on the relevant halachos and meets the standards established by Raboseinu Nesieinu and upheld by gedolim and poskim throughout the generations.
The Rebbe’s investment in Mishmeres STaM nearly fifty years ago has now come full circle. With a Chabad Rov serving on its global Vaad, the path is clear for every sofer to receive proper training and certification—and for every Yid to fulfill the mitzvos of tefillin and mezuzah with STaM of the highest standard.
To inquire about testing, certification, or for shailos, contact the Crown Heights Beis Din at 718-604-8000 ext. 3 or email [email protected].
Mazal tov! Does the Rov test for Hagaoh also? Or just for sofrim?
You need to first get certification for regular safrus, to write before you get certification for hagoha. That’s how it works. You cannot just learn to check and not know how to write. I’m sure the Rov can speak for himself but I’m sure that would be what he will tell you.
In addition, if do learn how to check, besides for taking and passing the exam you need to do proper shimush before you can practice on your own. I’m sure the Rov can guide you on this too
As of the last time I spoke with him, he does not test for hagaoh.
Wow Mazal Tov ! From strength to Strength !
As a communal sofer working out of town for 25 years, I can personally attest the one of the biggest problems we have in Chabad is the lack of proper Rabbinic leadership when it comes to STA”M (Sifrei Torah, tefillin & Mezuzos). This is because we lack Rabbonim who are knowledgeable in this area. (In fact, for as long as I can remember Chabad did not really have an accepted Posek or authority who has the necessary knowledge and shimush ….most Poskim only dabble in it because this area of halacha is so vast and specialised. ) This unfortunately leads… Read more »
But where does it mention that the rebbe wanted a Lubavitcher rov on the vaad of mishmeres stam, with writing a bunch of times “the rebbe’s wish being fulfilled” do you have a source?
There’s a letter the Rebbe wrote to the founder of the Vaad Mishmeres Stam in the photos section of this article. The Rebbe says there חבר אני and encloses a check. There’s also an article in the photos in Yiddish (where is that from?) that thanks the Rebbe Rayatz for his efforts to build the institution.
How ironic that one of the things that in chabad we were never makpid on is ksav kabalah!
When takonos for the softim were established in crown heights the one takono that got a negative response from the rebbe was the need for ksav kabalah!
I’ve never heard this. I know plenty of sofrim the Rebbe told to get proper kabollah and shimush. Even the iggud hasofrim of crown heights gave out some sort of ksav kabollah. Did they do so without the Rebbe’s permission.
Every professional job in the world requires some sort of diploma or process where people need to demonstrate that they know enough to practice their profession properly. Otherwise it would be a disaster. Why should safrus be any different?
Know your history. In lubavich non of the sofrim even the big mumchim had kaboloh . Rabbi Zalman Shimon Devorkin told Rabbi Zirkind that in lubavich they did not get kaboloh. To my knowledge hearing from rabbi Zirkind himself that Rabbi Matlin the Rebbe sofer didn’t have kaboloh, it wasn’t the in thing . The Rebbe did not enforce people to get kaboloh . When rabbi Zirkind founded the organization of vaad kosvei stam d’anash of C.H. It was approved by Rabbi Zalman Shimon Devorkin and gave the authority and mandate to give kaboloh to offset vaad mishmeres stam ,… Read more »
I think it’s time to clean your clock. The Rebbe may have accepted rabbi Matlin as his sofer without ksav kabollah because there was no one to give it in those days in America. So to with Rabbi Zirkind. It is inexcusable today to work in any profession that requires a significant level of responsibility and knowledge without first demonstrating to an accepted authority that you are competent. Can you imagine even something as simple as driving a car, if you didn’t have to pass a test, how dangerous that would be? How much more so with something as complex… Read more »
I don’t have to clean my clock !!! Getting kaboloh is not a chabad lubavich thing and minhag , it’s brought down from the Chasam sofer and his talmidim which is ungarhesher dinim and minhagim . If you follow his directives , then we in chabad should follow all his directives including davening late mincha at night time and keeping shabbos 72 minutes longer like shitas r”t. Can’t pick and choose your shita . Kaboloh is not the issue , the big big issue is that unfortunately the new sofrim don’t get proper shimush on safrus ,they learn for a… Read more »
Just because we accept one thing from the Chasam Sofer doesn’t mean we have to follow everything he says. There’s no one person in the entire Shas that the Halochah is always like him, and never once do we not follow him. And Rabbi Zirkind did have Kabolah and the Rebbe encouraged him to get it.
While most other positions cannot be examined by a non professional, anybody who had perused through basic hilchos teffilin will know c who is a sofer who knows and whom he should not trust. Once we don’t open our eyes and only trust the Kabolo, we are bound to get into trouble. I am only writing since I see the more knowledgeable commenter let you have the last word and don’t want people to rely only on Kabolo with as was noted earlier I’d only a bonus and not the common practice. Even if you think it is a necessity… Read more »
Sounds like a wise plan. You can get your tefillin from “anybody who had perused through basic hilchos teffilin”. I’ll get mine from a qualified sofer.
For my own family and mekorovim, I prefer a sofer who has at least read the first page of קסת הסופר which says that anyone who writes without being בקיא in kesses and without being tested on that knowledge is פסול מאומנותו, just like a shochet.
To each his own.
There is no such approach of being “not makpid on ksav kabalah” in Lubavitch — or anywhere. Where did you hear that?
If you’re a sofer without any formal training, without knowledge of the halachos, without shimush and without having ever been tested in them, you should take the time to open a sefer and understand the importance of your craft. A good sefer to start with is Kesses Hasofer and a good place to start is the first page of that sefer – the Chasam Sofer’s approbation.
Has writing without knowing the halachos, without shimush and without being tested has become the de-facto standard in Chabad ר״ל?
מיחל הצלחה בכל האמור, וה’ יצליח דרכו.
Is there more of a מקור where the Rebbe writes his consent for ועד משמרת סת״ם?
In 1982 the vaad kosvei stam d’anash of c.h. was established by Rabbi Zirkind with the authorization of rabbi Zalman Shimon Devorkin and with the brochoh v’haskomoh of the Rebbe on the organization and stationary to enhance the stam situation in crown heights , And try to uplift the standard. The organization was established due to another organization trying to criticize chabad lubavich ksav and hadrochoh in stam, , Hearing of the plan Rabbi Zirkind informed the Rebbe and instructed him to start a new vaad and gave instructions for the organization , the Rebbe was very involved in the… Read more »
Good luck getting a job as a sofer or magiha anywhere in the world today without ksav kabollah etc .
As r yoelish or satmar is reputed to have said “if you want kosher food don’t buy as being that needs a hechsher…”
If they insist on it before they give you a job then go for it. It isn’t issue.
You might need a certificate for those who don’t know but we should open our eyes so we don’t need to rely on one