Translated by Yehudah Barukh Ilan
Question:
Shalom,
I have seen now the site “Machon Gevil” (globaljms.co.il) and I was outraged for the following reasons:
1) Regarding sifrei torah and megillot ester (and thus mezuzot which are made from gevil), there is seemingly no problem with this except it is not actually written on the site “we write according to the tradition of Yemen regarding the divisions between sections in the Torah scroll and defective and plenary spellings.” Therefore, only the mezuzot which are written on gevil are kosher without question. And this problematic situation is hidden from visitors who are certainly not all supposed to be talmidei hakhamim.
2) The site does mention the Shulchan Aruch. And the clear reason for this is because it is run by Rambamists who conduct themselves only according to him, and thus they do not write that there is a dispute between the Rambam and Maran in the Shulchan Aruch (and the majority of the Rishonim) concerning the proper definition of klaf and dukhsustos. And they sell scribal products which are made only according to the opinion of the Rambam, yet the purchasing public does not necessarily know that they are buying items (with the exception of mezuzot on gevil and sifrei torah and megillot ester) which are invalid according to the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch. And also Rav Ratzabi writes that the custom of Yemen in this matter is in accordance with the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch. Therefore, their products are invalid according to the majority of traditional Jewish communities including Yemenites, except for a small portion of Yemenites which are thought of as worthless, as our rabbinic representative and leader has written.
3) There is not a single approbation from any Rav (it is of course difficult to find many rabbis who hold according to the opinion of Mori Kapach, and if they inserted the approbation of simply what the Rambam writes, it would become known to the public that the rest of the gedolim do not agree.
4) The whole site is in English. But for whom is the site intended? For Rambamist Yemenites or to wealthy Americans? Are they wanting to con and to deceive people, or what?
Although I have no problem that they make such products, on the contrary I think that this is very important and necessary for the community which conducts itself according to the Rambam who are now able to obtain kosher tefillin and mezuzot according to his opinion. And also, I agree completely that it is necessary to write sifrei torah and megillot ester on gevil and not on klaf, and to be written using a reed and not using a feather, but they should have explicitly indicated that their products are made only according to the halakhic methodology of the Rambam and are invalid to the majority of Jewish communities. (And I also do not understand why they do not make duchsustos and klaf according to the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch, what would they lose if their customers request it?) Thus, they should have called their institute “Machon HaSta''m Al Pi HaRambam'” and not “Machon Gevil.”
So I would like to ask the Rabbi's opinion in this matter, and if he agrees with me. Is it possible to influence them to fix this? Because if not, there is a serious concern of fraud, deceit, and theft.
Answer:
Believe me that I do not know a thing, or even half a thing, about this institute. The first time that I became aware of its existence was through your question. And it's not that I deny its existence, for how will I deny something that I know nothing about without first researching and investigating the matter well?
And you must also believe me that you bring up a real problem, namely whether or not in our days we are able to give halakhic instruction with regard to scribal products in accordance with the Rambam without actually saying that the halakhic instruction is in accordance with the Rambam. But, on the other hand, I am obligated to speak the truth, the whole truth, and the truth is that the smell of mahloket and of sinat hinam is present in your words. Or how could you write: “Therefore, their products are invalid according to the majority of traditional Jewish communities including Yemenites, except for a small portion of Yemenites which are thought of as worthless, as our rabbinic representative and leader has written.” Wording such as this is written by a baal mahloket, not a person who truly fears HaShem. Behold I do not even know you. And did you already discuss with me face to face concerning halakhic instruction and about hashkafah in relation to the poskim and the customs of different Jewish communities?!
And believe me that it is not my honor that I am defending, but rather I pity you. And it is because of my pity that I am writing to you, since on account of such a phrasing as this I didn't even need to address your inquiry. But nevertheless you asked me to prevent fraud in the teaching of halakhah, although you turned to a “worthless” leader such as myself. I assume that you are fed from baalei lashon hara, so my advice to you is that you should return in teshuvah and to disconnect yourself from baalei lashon hara even if they appear in your eyes to be talmidei hakhamim. For who among us is greater than Doeg the Edomite, head of the Sanhedrin, who sinned with regard to lashon hara and through it caused the shedding of blood and subsequently inherited Gehinnom?
And you should also know that the expression “Rambamists” that you used has in it negative connotations not only toward people who conduct themselves according to the words of the Rambam, but also against the teaching of the Rambam itself. And in this matter baalei mahloket have sinned, for there is no one who is able to nullify the teaching of the Rambam. For according to Maran in the Shulchan Aruch the majority of the House of Israel (excluding our brothers the Ashkenazim) conduct themselves according to the Rambam. And even Maran in the Shulchan Aruch, the majority of his teachings (about eighty percent) are from the words of the Rambam.
So my advice to you, although I do not know you, is to save yourself, if you have the merit. Distance yourself from baalei mahloket. Give honor to the Rambam and his teaching no less than the rest of the halachic decisors and do not denigrate at all the one who conducts himself according to the Rambam. Then, and only then, will you be permitted to ask and to clarify if it is permitted today to teach halakhah le-maaseh according to the rulings of the Rambam with regard to scribal products, i.e. if such products are really likely to be a mikhshol for those who do not decide halakhah according to the Rambam. For it is not always the case that in matters of processed leather and scribal products that the instructions of the Rambam are lenient compared to the decisions of the rest of the halachic decisors, but rather the opposite.