Does partial resemblance of a letter to another letter (only part of the letter resembles a different letter) invalidate STaM?
Synopsis
A dispute exists among authorities whether a letter is invalid when only part of it resembles another letter. The Mahara Anach and Sefer Maaseh Rokach hold even partial resemblance is invalidating; the Gra and Pri Chadash disagree.
More in Laws of Mezuzah
Must a scribe write STaM (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzot) in 'ketivah tamah' (the traditional calligraphic script style)?
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Must each letter in STaM be a single unified entity (guf echad), and what does this require for letters with detached components (such as the Yud of an Alef, the Yuds of Shin and Ayin, the Yud behind a Tzadi)?
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Must a scribe add tagin (crowns) to the letters of SHATNEZ GETZ in STaM, and does omitting them invalidate the document?
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Are there additional tagin beyond SHATNEZ GETZ that scribes add to STaM, and do they invalidate if added improperly?
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Does the prohibition of writing STaM 'shelo kesidran' (out of order) apply to correcting or completing individual letter components (such as a Yud not touching the Alef) after writing the next letter?
3 opinions
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Discussion
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