 Painting Retzuos to expose all the cracks and fill with paint.
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One of the many benefits of purchasing your Tefillin at the Sofer Center. Come experience the joy! Watch as Rabbi Kass puts the Parshios inside the Batim. learn all there is to know about your Tefillin. Connect.  Great Grandfather Tefillin. Someone wanted to gift this to his grandson to use for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah.
It is a great family heirloom, but not kosher to wear. The Parchment, straps and boxes are all worn out, faded and cracked and no longer Kosher. You wouldn't give him Great Grandpa's worn out overalls to wear... same applies here. Retzuos start out at 15mm in order that if they begin to tear you will still have some time to get them replaced before they become Possul. The preferable (Kosher Lechatchilah) width is 11mm according to the Chazon Ish and 10mm according to Rav Chaim Naeh. The minimal (Bedieved) width for making a Brachah is 9mm. If a Retzuah started tearing or if it is missing paint at one spot making the connected or painted Retzuah less than the minimal width it is Possul and must be replaced. From time to time it is important to look over your Retzuos to ensure they are Kosher if you have any doubts be sure to bring them in right away.
 Have you ever heard of someone that is allergic to their Retzuos / Tefillin straps?
I had a client who recently got new Retzuos while in Israel for the Yom Tov, and ever since he got new Retzuos he developed an allergic reaction to them consisting of blisters and puss infection on his arm. Most Retuzos today use chrome in the process of making them, and there are unfortunately a select few that are allergic to the chrome. Are you or do you know someone who is having a reaction to their Retzuos? I have good news for you! We stock chrome free Retzuos. There is no reason why it should hurt to wear Tefillin. If you are suffering contact us today. Vegetable Tanned / Chrome free Retzuos can be ordered via this Link Chrome free Retzuos  A client brought these into the office explaining that his straps were ripped for a long time and he had been meaning to come in and get them replaced, but he kept pushing it off because his Chaver (Friend) told him as long as the straps are connected at some point they are still Kosher.
Unfortunately this could not be further from the truth! Retzuos start out at 15mm in order that if they begin to tear you will still have some time to get them replaced before they become Possul. The preferable (Kosher Lechatchilah) width is 11mm according to the Chazon Ish and 10mm according to Rav Chaim Naeh. The minimal (Bedieved) width for making a Brachah is 9mm. If a Retzuah started tearing at one spot making the connected Retzuah it less than the minimal width it is Possul and must be replaced. The Retzuah in this picture is at most 4mm. Lesson: Do not tie the straps on very tight or wrap them on the box very tightly as this will lead to eventual ripping and invalidating the Tefillin straps.  These Retzuos started out as 15mm (as you can see the one on the left) and were stretched to the point where they are now less then 9mm (Retzuah on the right),
The preferable width is 11mm according to the Chazon Ish and 10mm according to Rav Chaim Naeh. The minimal width for making a Brachah is 9mm. If a Retzuah has been squeezed together at one spot making it less than the minimal width but it can be pulled back in to the minimal width it is acceptable . If however it has been stretched out and is narrower than the minimal width at any spot it must be replaced. The end of the Retzuos may be cut on an angle even though they will be less than the minimal width. Lesson: Do not tie the straps on very tight or wrap them on the box very tightly as this will lead to eventual stretching and invalidating the Tefillin straps  In proccess of painting Retzuah, It was originally totally brown. I find very often when Tefillin are brought in to be checked that the Retuzos have been largely ignored for many years.
These Tefillin came in today. As you can see the contrast from the spots that was repainted to the state that they were when they came in, as you can see they were clearly not black. When Tefillin straps are not black the Tefillin may only be worn when there are no other Kosher pairs available, and a Brachah can not be made. Look over your straps to ensure they are black. If they are not you can bring them in for us to paint them. If you only need a few touch ups you can purchase a Marker or Bottle to do the job. |
CASE STUDIES
There are Many things that can render Tefillin or Mezuzah not Kosher or at best minimally Kosher. Some of which happen over time with aging and some unfortunately are Posul from the get go. Such as, Letters, words and or Tagim that are missing, extra substituted, touching, Broken, Improperly Spaced, misshapen faded, cracked and weather damaged. We document the problems we find and periodically upload them to the website. We hope that this will educate and encourage the public to purchase only Tefillin and Mezuzas that are high quality from a reputable source, to take care of them properly and have them checked regularly. Categories
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AuthorRabbi Kass was ordained by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Ashkenazik Chief Rabbi of Israel. He is certified as a Sofer for both Kesivah and Hagoah by one of the leading experts in Safrus, Rabbi Avrohom Tzvi Vosner, Rav of the Vad Mishmeres Sta”m. 
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