Tephillin & Mezuzot 2
Question
I had been using the same pair of tephillin for at least ten years and never had them checked. I had them checked in Jerusalem this year and discovered that the shel yad was pasul. I saw with my own eyes that the the zayin in the word zikaron was mistakenly written as a daled instead. 1) I felt terrible because I could have caught the mistake years ago if I had them checked twice in 7 years as I was taught. Is the Rav saying that it would have been ok for me to continue blessing over this pair of tephillin without ever checking them because they were not exposed to the outside? (Lets assume they were purchased from a reliable source). 2) Did I fulfill the mitzvah of tephillin for all those years? 3) Were my brachot levatalah? 4) If they were levatalah could I even claim that each chet was beshogeg when I did not take the steps to check that they were kosher? Thank you.
Answer
Answered by Aaron Abadi1) checking them the first time before you use them is the number one prority, otherwise you are making a Beracha LeVatalah. Checking every seven years is not necessary, since the Teffilen are kept protected from the elements. Don't feel so bad. As is written by Mishmeret Stam, over 90% of STA"M (Sefer Torah, Teffilen, & Mezuzot) are not Kosher. Your Torah in your Shul & your Mezuzot at your house are probably not Kosher too. They don't want to do anything about it. My father came up with a major breakthrough that is 1000% OK in Halachah, but for political reasons & to keep the jobs of the Sofrim (scribes) they came out publicly against it. Against the majority of Poskim that clearly write that it would be fine. Against the Aruch Hashulchan, Rabbi Scheinberg, and Rav Tuvia Goldstien A"H who all said it's perfectly Kosher. 2) No 3) Yes 4) You can say it is "Oness" if you purchased it from a "truly reliable" source. Not checking it after 7 years is not the issue. You keep missing the point. When you buy the Teffillen originally, that is the time to be certain it is Kosher. Pay extra, get it checked then. Once it is confirmed OK and you put them in the boxes, you know that they'll always be fine. If you never checked originally, you are liable for that, not for not checking every 7 years..... Now I beg of you. Find a "qualified Sofer" and have him check all your Mezuzot. I guarantee that at least half are not Kosher. Send them to me and I'll show you. I hate to be so blunt and forward, but I'm directing this to all the viewers and all Jews. Your Mezuzot are not Kosher. your Torahs are not Kosher. stand up for yourselves! Expect more from your Rabbis! Expect honesty! Stop being so naive. Is it really in the name of God that we are trying to keep the jobs for the Sofrim even though over 90% of the STA"M is not Kosher?! Is it OK that 90% of our Berachot are Levatalah on Kriat HaTorah, Teffilen, & Mezuzot. You are not the only one. You're part of the majority. You have your chance to fix it. Take control of your destiny. Everyone! Stop being led like lost sheep........ email me scanned copies of your Mezuzot & I'll show you 3 Pesulim on each, and I'm not even a Sofer. AA