How is the letter kuf written?

The letter kuf is formed from a chof that is slightly thinned out on its right side. The leg of the kuf looks like an “ende” nun, with a slightly thinner head. Its bottom is also slightly shorter and is gradually tapered to a point. If it was formed like a vav or even like an ordinary line (without a head), it is also kosher. The leg may not be connected to the body of the letter. Care should be taken not to put too much distance between them, however, so as not to distort the letter.

משנת סופרים אות ק' וביה"ל ד"ה וירכה ביאורים ומוספים 3-6




Can the shin have a wide bottom?



The three branches of the letter shin join at one point towards the bottom. This makes the shin similar to the letters kuf and reish, which also stand on one point. These three letters form the word sheker (falsehood). The Gemara explains that just as these letters do not have “feet”, a lie cannot stand on its own. If the bottom of the shin was widened, the poskim disagree about whether the letter is kosher. Those who say that it is kosher explain that the Gemara was primarily focusing on the letter kuf in its analogy.

משנת סופרים אות ש; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 3


Can there be a hole in the parchment in the middle of a letter?


Each letter of Sta”m must be mukof gvil (surrounded by parchment). Therefore, there must be margins between the lines and the edges of the parchment. Space must also be left between the letters, and there may not be holes next to a letter. One should also be stringent and make sure that there are no holes in the middle of any of the letters.

כללי 'מוקף גויל'
  • The letter tzadik is created from the letter nun and the letter yud. The nun should be bent, and the yud should face upward. To avoid having the letter resemble an ayin, the yud should be connected to the middle of the neck of the nun and not attached near its bottom.

  • There are two different ways of writing Sta”m--one for the Ashkenazic community and one for the Sephardim. The writing of the Ashkenazim is known as the ksav of the Beis Yosef and the Sfardi one is known as the ksav Velish.

  • A tzadik is comprised of a nun and a yud. According to the Ashkenazic tradition, the yud is written in the typical way. According to the Sephardic and Kabbalistic traditions, the yud faces leftward. 



  • Is there a length of time that a person must wear his tefillin each day?





  • What should be done if a person discovers that his tefillin have always been pasul?

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  • Is it ever permissible to say Kriyas Shema without tefillin?
PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
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