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Hak Tochot: Difference between revisions
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==Definition== | ==Definition== | ||
There are many letters of the Aleph Bet which contain three walls. The space between these walls is called the “inside” –“תוך” (singular of תוכות). For example, the letters ב,ה,ח,ט,כ,מ,ס and ת clearly have an inside surrounded by three walls. חק תוכות literally means carving the insides of these letters, and implies that the outsides of the letters will be carved out as well in order to form the letter itself. Of course, this rule of חק תוכות applies to all the letters, even part of a letter, and is not limited to letters that actually contain an inside. | There are many letters of the Aleph Bet which contain three walls. The space between these walls is called the “inside” –“תוך” (singular of תוכות, Tochot). For example, the letters ב,ה,ח,ט,כ,מ,ס and ת clearly have an inside surrounded by three walls. חק תוכות literally means carving the insides of these letters, and implies that the outsides of the letters will be carved out as well in order to form the letter itself. Of course, this rule of חק תוכות applies to all the letters, even part of a letter, and is not limited to letters that actually contain an inside. | ||
<ref> | <ref> | ||
Mishna Berura, Siman 32, Seif 17, Seif Katan 66 | Mishna Berura, Siman 32, Seif 17, Seif Katan 66 | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
If the letter is formed by carving, removing, erasing, excess ink that surrounds it, it is considered Hak Tochot and is Passul. | |||
* In short, a letter may not be completed by removing the ink around it. | * In short, a letter may not be completed by removing the ink around it. | ||
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If any such mistakes should happen, rendering the letter unrecognizable, what should the Sofer do? | If any such mistakes should happen, rendering the letter unrecognizable, what should the Sofer do? | ||
*In order to fix a letter that has become unrecognizable, a Sofer must remove | *In order to fix a letter that has become unrecognizable, a Sofer must remove the drop of ink as well as a part of the letter so the letter remains unrecognizable. Than he must rewrite that part of the letter that was removed. In this way the letter is completed by writing it and not by removing the ink around it, Hak Tochot. | ||
For example: | |||
If a drop of ink falls on the letter Mem, מ, making it look like the letter Mem Sofit , ם, recreating the Mem by simply removing the drop is Assur because it is Hak Tochot. | |||
However, the Sofer may erase the enire leg of the Mem, leaving only the shape of a Nun, נ, and then rewrite the leg. In this way the letter is completed by writing and not by erasing the ink around it. <ref> | |||
'''שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות תפילין סימן לב סעיף יח''' | '''שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות תפילין סימן לב סעיף יח''' | ||
</ref> | </ref> | ||
