I have several long, serious, and research intensive posts in the works. One is on the economics of STA"M, another on the precise definition of "shinui tzura". Unfortunately I have no time so here are some pictures instead.
Tefillin straps are leather made of the skin of a kosher animal. Which species of bovine grows a duct tape hide? Obviously a retzua cannot be held together with duct tape, but what about using it to cover up faded bits?
There is nothing wrong with the dye used in duct tape per se. The problem is that it is a new layer, not dye. This is similar to the issue of tiach -- a manufacturing practice where the battim were covered in putty instead of painted. The halacha is that if the putty comes of in small flakes, it might as well be paint; otherwise it hasn't been painted. Therefore covering an unpainted retzua in tape would not make it kosher.
This past shabbat we read about the prohibition of Bal Tosif -- not adding to a mitzvah. The classic example of this given in the literature is "not putting 5 scrolls in your tefillin." I recall that every time we came across this in school someone would ask "but why would anybody do that?" and the response was always something like "I have no idea. It's hypothetical."
Well, here you go. It is common to stuff tefillin with scraps of parchment so that the parshiyot don't rattle around. This shel-yad was stuffed with many extra pieces as shown here ... including an extra parsha taken from a shel rosh (the scroll on top.)
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| Retzua held together with duct tape |
Tefillin straps are leather made of the skin of a kosher animal. Which species of bovine grows a duct tape hide? Obviously a retzua cannot be held together with duct tape, but what about using it to cover up faded bits?
There is nothing wrong with the dye used in duct tape per se. The problem is that it is a new layer, not dye. This is similar to the issue of tiach -- a manufacturing practice where the battim were covered in putty instead of painted. The halacha is that if the putty comes of in small flakes, it might as well be paint; otherwise it hasn't been painted. Therefore covering an unpainted retzua in tape would not make it kosher.
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| Textbook bal tosif |
This past shabbat we read about the prohibition of Bal Tosif -- not adding to a mitzvah. The classic example of this given in the literature is "not putting 5 scrolls in your tefillin." I recall that every time we came across this in school someone would ask "but why would anybody do that?" and the response was always something like "I have no idea. It's hypothetical."
Well, here you go. It is common to stuff tefillin with scraps of parchment so that the parshiyot don't rattle around. This shel-yad was stuffed with many extra pieces as shown here ... including an extra parsha taken from a shel rosh (the scroll on top.)
It's not clear to me that there is a Bal Tosif if all I wanted was to prevent the parsha from moving around. It is quite possible that intent is required to add to the mitzva for the issur of Bal Tosif to kick in. I have some mekoros if you are interested. GRR
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