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)?
Synopsis
Each letter must be a single unified entity. Components that are structurally part of the letter—such as the Yuds of the Alef, Shin, Ayin, and the back of the Tzadi—must touch the main body. If any such component does not touch, the letter is invalid and a child's reading cannot remedy it. An exception applies to the Heh and Kuf, where the suspended leg must not touch.
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 a letter's shape becoming defective after writing (through a hole, tear, or smudge) invalidate STaM?
1 opinions
Does partial resemblance of a letter to another letter (only part of the letter resembles a different letter) invalidate STaM?
3 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
May a Kohen who cannot properly enunciate Hebrew letters perform Birkat Kohanim?
Birkat Kohanim — Detailed Laws
What spiritual benefit results from viewing the letters of the Torah scroll?
Torah Reading (Monday/Thursday)
If a Torah reader errs in the pronunciation of even a single letter (in a way that changes the meaning), must he go back and re-read?
Torah Reading Errors and Corrections
If one ate multiple foods that each require Boreh Nefashot, does one recite a single Boreh Nefashot for all of them?
Blessing on Fragrance
Does a 'beriah' (whole natural unit of food, such as a single grape or pomegranate seed) require a bracha acharona even if it is less than a kezayis?
Uncertain Blessings
If one recited a single divine Name (e.g., Adonai or Eloheinu) but not both, has the requirement of 'Shem' been fulfilled?
Blessings on Trees in Bloom
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.