Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Can a letter be formed by removing a splotch of ink?

Creating a letter through the method known as chok tochos (scraping away the area around it) is not acceptable for Sta”m. A letter that is formed through means other than writing is not considered a letter. For example, if a splotch of ink fell on a letter and the sofer scratched away at the ink to reshape the letter, it is not considered writing and the letter is pasul. Retracing the newly formed letter is also problematic, since rewriting a previously written letter is not a halachically acceptable form of writing.

[סעיף יז וס"ק סג, סד, ו־סו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 97]

Does chok tochos apply if the letter was once written properly?

There are some Rishonim who say that the above-mentioned case of removing the ink and reforming the letter is only pasul mid’rabonon. There are even some views which hold that since the letter was originally written properly, removing the ink to reform the letter would not be considered chok tochos. In their view, chok tochos is only an issue if the sofer formed a letter which had never been written properly. The halacha does not follow this view.

[ביה"ל ד"ה אם וד"ה ופסול; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 98]

Can a letter be written with the intention of lishmah?

Ksav al gabei ksav (writing upon other writing) is not considered writing. The upper layer of script is nullified to the lower layer. If the first writing was written without the proper intention of lishmah, it cannot be “kashered” by rewriting it lishmah. A minority view maintains that since in this case the upper writing is of higher quality, it does count as writing. There are those who hold that even if upper writing is of inferior quality (e.g. it was not written lishmah), it still counts as writing—even on top of script that was written lishmah.

[ביה"ל ד"ה ואינה; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 97 ,101 ו־102 ; וראה ס"ק צב]

Each letter of Sta”m must be mukaf gvil (fully surrounded by parchment). There are two explanations of this halacha mentioned in the poskim. Some understand that the concern involves two letters touching each other. If they do touch, the letters are not kosher, even if the attachment happened after they were written.

Others say that a hole in the parchment next to a letter can also interfere with mukaf gvil. According to this opinion, the concern only applies at the time of writing.

A letter which was written either next to a hole or next to the edge of the parchment is pasul. Since at the time of writing it was not surrounded by parchment, it is not mukaf gvil. If, however, the letter was written properly but then the parchment either developed a hole or shriveled up so that the letter is approaching the edge, it is kosher.

Can forming a partial letter be problematic?

Can a letter be formed from a drop of ink?

Can two letters be written together?

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.