Does a letter's shape becoming defective after writing (through a hole, tear, or smudge) invalidate STaM?
Synopsis
If a letter's form changes after writing due to physical damage (hole, tear, smudging), the document is invalid—the same standard that applies to improper writing at the outset applies to post-writing defects.
More in Laws of Mezuzah
Must a scribe write STaM (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, Mezuzot) in 'ketivah tamah' (the traditional calligraphic script style)?
4 opinions
Does partial resemblance of a letter to another letter (only part of the letter resembles a different letter) invalidate STaM?
3 opinions
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)?
5 opinions
What is the minimum gap required between the suspended leg of the Heh (and Kuf) and the roof of the letter?
2 opinions
Is the leg (regel) of Heh or Kuf touching the roof (gag) a post-writing defect or does it only invalidate at the time of writing?
1 opinions
Must a scribe add tagin (crowns) to the letters of SHATNEZ GETZ in STaM, and does omitting them invalidate the document?
5 opinions
Are there additional tagin beyond SHATNEZ GETZ that scribes add to STaM, and do they invalidate if added improperly?
2 opinions
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
Related from other topics
Must one wash hands upon returning to a meal after becoming distracted from guarding their hands?
Table Conduct
Must tefillin be written with black ink, and does writing even one letter in another color or in gold invalidate the tefillin?
Writing Tefillin
If a hole developed in a letter after writing (specifically in the interior of a heh or mem), is the tefillin still valid?
Writing Tefillin
If the inner (left) leg of a heh is perforated after writing, how much must remain for the tefillin to be valid?
Writing Tefillin
If the right leg of a heh is perforated after writing, how much of the leg must remain for the tefillin to be valid?
Writing Tefillin
Must the scribe proofread each passage carefully after writing it, and also before placing it in its housing?
Writing Tefillin
Discussion
Discussion coming soon.
The Daily Law
One question. Every opinion. Every morning.
A new halakhic question and the full spectrum of rabbinic thought, delivered daily.