Important Information - laniadosafrutcenter.com

Did you Know?

According to The Stamp Project over 70 percent of Safrut out there, is totally Pasul or Bediavad.

An even higher percentage is with our Sifre Torah, as one Torah is close to 500 Mezuzot making it extremely difficult to check.

Urgent Sefer Torah Info

To our esteemed Rabbis and fellow community members,

Due to the current situation with the Sifre Torah in our community, it has become of utmost importance to alert and inform our community of the shocking results that are being revealed by our Soferim and Rabbanim. Unfortunately, an extremely high number of Non-Koosher Sifre Torah are being found in our Community's Shuls. Attached are pictures of 5 of our communities Torahs that within the last few years have been found to have many Pesulim, some after reading from them for many years. Many even after they are repaired are still only kosher Bediavad¹.

The reason this is happening is because many people are unaware what is needed to ensure they are getting a Kosher Torah. There are three steps done by three different people which is what makes up a Kosher Sefer Torah. The Sofer does the writing, the Metayeg adds the Tagim (crowns) and the Magiah does the checking. These 3 people involved must have a valid-non expired certificate of semicha (Teudah) allowing and proving that they can do their specific job. Many times, attention is only paid to the price, Seller, handwriting and artistic beauty which are not as important. Additionally, many people assume if it was computer checked it is Kosher, however experience has shown otherwise².

Even when Gedolim and trustworthy people recommend a Sofer, he is not to be relied upon before properly investigating all the people involved and attaining their certificates. There are countless stories of Torahs that were from Gedolim recommended Soferim yet they were not Kosher.

Last but not least, countless times even kosher Sifre torah are invalidated by the hachnassa itself. This is because the Rabbi\Sofer\People finishing off the letters make mistakes and it is not properly checked afterwards. It is of utmost importance to at the very least take a picture of the last page and send it to a Sofer, or take it to a Sofer to be checked.

Therefore, all Shuls should not accept any torah without procuring these three certifications, Additionally, the Torah should be taken prior and after the Hachnassa (preferably even our used Torahs too) to a certified local Magiah to at least partially computer check it, to ensure it is written and checked properly.

1 This is because the crowns are many times put on by a different person called a Metayeg and is with different ink and many times they are not trained well in the laws of Safrut if at all and can make Pesulim, and especially in the Tagim. There are around a quarter of a million Tagim in a torah and it is extremely difficult to fix, if possible, often taking double the amount of time as putting them on.

2 This is because the camera only captures one angle of the torah and the software is also only catching 75% of the issues. Only in regards to the spelling can a computer be relied upon and only if the one who is running the software has a teuda as a Magiah and knows the Halachot, which is many times unfortunately not the case, instead, anyone who knows the ‘aleph bet’ does the computer check, assuming the computer does most of the work, when the computer just points out the questionable letters and a certified Magiah must decide if it is halachically acceptable.

What to know before buying?

First of All, Safrut must be from reliable and certified Soferim.

A Judaica Store is not the best place, as many times the quality is very poor if indeed Kosher.

They must be written by Certified Soferim and checked by certified Bodkim\Magihim.

Checking stam needs much expertise.

The Sofer writes the Stam and the Magiah validates that it is kosher. In a situation that a mezuzah has many problems, questions, and needs many repairs; experience shows that there will be issues that escape the checkers eyes, and in others words it may be very possible that the mezuzah is not kosher. For example, if the Sofer has a hardship that causes many crowns to be disconnected, or many letters extremely close to touching, the mind of the checker is consciously or subconsciously busy finding the next cracked tag or to see If the letters that are so close are indeed touching. Therefore, even if the Magiah is working with full concentration and has a sharp eye, and professional at spotting the problems that can occur in stam, there is still a big possibility that he will not catch other sorts of issues. This is the main reason that even checked stam are found pasul or Bediavad, because even if a proper check was performed the vast number of issues prevented the ability to check it 100%.

However, if the writing of the Sofer is smooth, meaning he has no specific problem in his style of writing, such as cracked crowns, or letters extremely close, and no repeated spacing issues; then, if the checker did an honest check, most chances are he will find 100% of the problems. This has nothing to do with the Sofer having a nice hand writing or not. It`s very possible that his writing is not especially beautiful, however if it’s written in a way that there are no weaknesses, and by glancing at it you can tell that it is written according to halacha without the need to bring the mezuza close to your eye, in such a case, we can hope that a professional checker will not miss any problems. On the other hand, a checker who gets a beautiful mezuza to check, but on every line must stop to check if there is enough space between the words, or if the crowns are indeed touching the letter, or is the Kutz of the Yud there, he is working with constant interruption and is more prone to overlook issues.

This is why many Mezuzot are indeed Bediavad or not kosher and is why the Laniado Safrut center is the place to trust, and will let you know if your Mezuzot have this problem. They will check your Mezuzot for up to an hour or a few times to ascertain it is fully kosher (For an additional charge), or suggest to replace them.

Explanation of our Checking and its Terms

Sifre Torah

Complete Sefer Torah Check and Repair Terms

To give a proper estimate, the following categories are checked.

The Parchment - Its size, estimated age, quality, strength, and inner and outer cleanliness.
The Ink - Its quality, color, and percent humidity.
The Writing – Its type (Ashkenaz, Sephardic, Habad), shape of the letters, touching letters, disconnected\cracked letters, too close letters, too far letters, and the crowns.
The standard computer checks and repairs, straightening of the parchments, sewing them, strengthening them, the rolling mechanism, special repairs, and certifications.

Clarification: The Estimates are given by scanning and checking a number of pages in different places throughout the Sefer. Therefore, it is possible that during the repair to find other issues not seen at the time of the original estimate. Therefore, the final price can be higher or lower than the original estimate. In the situation that a difference is found, and the estimate was not correct, you will be notified accordingly.

Our General Plan:

Renewing the lettering - Adding ink to broken or faded letters.
Separation of letters – Separating too close\touching letters or words.
Visual Check - The Sefer is checked visually from beginning to end letter-by-letter by a certified Magiah. This is done with controlled lighting over and under the parchment to ensure no issues are overlooked. All issues found that invalidate the Sefer including but not limited to touching, disconnected letters, and incorrect spaced words are then fixed by our Magihim.
Computer Checks - These are done by capturing high quality images of the Torah, and scanning it with the latest software to help catch any issues that may have been overlooked due to human error. The computer software prints a detailed list of all issues found, and all issues found are then repaired.
Protective Coating – If necessary, the Sefer will be coated with a special clear formula that has been tested and confirmed to protect the letters from cracking or fading in the near future.
Parchment Repairs - The parchment is beautified by patching holes, erasing markings, and resewing any loose pages.
Final Check – After all repairs, the Torah is scanned visually and by computer to ensure a Kosher Sefer Torah. This is the final check before reading it in Shul.

General Timeframe for the work:

The estimated time of completion is 3-4 months after approval of the estimate and acceptance of deposit.

Estimated Pricing:

1) Manual Check and Repair: 6500

2) Computer Checks: 1000

3) Repair computer reports: unknown?

4) Cleaning of inside of parchment: 250

5) Cleaning of outside: 250

6) Protective coat: 500

7) Fixing the loose stitching and patches of parchment: 200

It is important to note that the price is not final, it is just an estimate. The final price is calculated based on the actual workhours. We try not to deviate from the estimate, however, when additional time is needed to make it kosher, it will increase the final price accordingly.

Payment Methods:

Payment Methods - Cash, checks payable to Laniado Safrut LLC, Zelle to 3473839216, and Venmo @laniadosafrut are all accepted. Credit card payments are subject to a 3% fee.

Payment Timeline:

A minimum 25% deposit must be given in order to start the work process.

At the end of the Work, the payment must be fully paid when the Sefer is picked up which cannot be later than 14 days after completion of the work.

A notification will be sent when the work is done and it is on condition to pick up the Sefer and clear the balance within 14 day the notice is given. After 14 days There will be a safekeeping fee of 10 dollars a day, for every day the Sefer is not picked up.

Any Sefer not picked up 6 months after the notification of completion was given, will become property of the Laniado Safrut Center.

Our Detailed Plan with additional clarifications:

An inside Cleaning- In a situation where the Sefer requires cleaning on the front of the parchment, whether from ink, pencil, or from earlier coatings, The Sefer will be cleaned partially or fully accordingly in order to allow a manual check and repair to be done.
An outer Cleaning - This is not Halachically required and the purpose is to beautify the Sefer. At times it is necessary to clean the outside of the parchment from ink that has rubbed on to it, to prevent the ink from returning back onto the letters which prevents the reader from seeing the words properly.
The Shade of ink - A Sefer Torah must be written in Lasting Black ink. However, over time many problems can occur with the ink. When the problem is with the color of it- and it is not properly black because it has faded over time (5 years or more), in this instance we will add ink accordingly to comply with the Shita of the Hattam Sofer in his laws of colors of the ink and as we have learnt and taught by asking our rabbis.

Similarly, at times, the ink can crack, get erased, and not adhere to the parchment. This can occur due to the type of ink, parchment, processing chemicals, additives to the parchment or ink, or if it was written in a low humidity setting etc. In such instances, a protective coat can be applied to ensure the continued adherence of the ink to the parchment. See explanation 15 for more information.

Renewing of the Letters – This is when the general condition of the Sefer is not up to par, either because of the ink, the shape of the letters, or from touching or cracked letters. As preparation ahead of the manual proofreading, it will be necessary to add ink and refresh the letters of the Sefer to bring it to a condition where it is fit to have a manual check. In this situation and throughout all the following checks and repairs that will be done, it should be noted that the maximum effort will be put in to address all the issues that need repair. However as much as the Magiah who is repairing the Sefer has a higher number of problems and categories to repair so does the chance and possibility of skipping over a repair that needed to be done. This is because all the work is done by humans that can make mistakes especially in such situations which require deliberation and full attention.
The Proper Shape of the letters - When the Sefer is brought to be checked and repaired, a test will be carried out on all the letters of the Sefer. This is to give the Magiah an emphasis on what to specifically focus on while checking each individual Sefer. The validity and kashrut of the letters will be according to what is found in the Sefer depending on how the Sofer wrote the letters and its general status and repeating issues. The halachic status and decision for what to fix, will be by the Rabbis of the Center that have much experience and Shimush with Rabbanim fixing Safrut.
Repeated Issues - When there is a repeated issue in a letter or in many letters, The Safrut Center will point out to the Magihim the presence of the problem in order to commend the check with an awareness and stress on the issue. However as was previously said it is understandable some issues might be overlooked. Therefore, in order to find any oversights, we will also place an emphasis during the computer check to the Magiah to look over the common issues of the Sofer. However, even so there can be oversights, and it is possible to computer check using a PreCategorized scan, meaning isolating all of the problematic letters of the Sefer (for example All Alephs) and going through each one separately. This demands more time, and is only done upon request, and is not included with the standard computer check.
Separations – This is done with a scalpel or sharp blade. Much Skill and caution must be exercised to prevent cutting through the parchment. As much as Halacha allows, all touching letters and close words are scratched away thereby Koshering the Sefer.
Visual Check - In instances where the Sefer requires renewing of the letters after the renewing a manual check will be done in order to address and validate the Sefer for reading in Shul. This is done by a Certified Magia and professional in his trade, but is not a rewriting or change in build, in any of the basis of the shape of the letters.
Computer Check - This Scan starts with an Ultra-High-resolution Camera, specially designed lenses, and bounced lighting that capture the most detailed and accurate pictures of the Sefer. The pictures are sent directly to a computer designed for graphics processing. The Latest version of D-U-K software then analyzes each letter to detect any flaws in the letters or crowns. The computer shows thousands of letters not formed perfectly, however only some invalidate the Sefer. Therefore, a keen eye and certified Magiah is then needed to properly select the issues that invalidate the letters. It is extremely common for mistakes to be overlooked at this stage, since there are so many letters being shown at once and only a few are true problems. Our Guarantee is as much as D-U-K gives, and the more issues found, raises the possibility of unfound issues. In such a case, an additional computer check will be recommended in order to scan another angle of the Torah. The reason being that a camera can only capture one angle, plus the software does not catch everything. Therefore, every additional angle and scan increases the chances of finding all the issues. The human eye sees many angles at once, and in most instances is more reliable. However, the capability of the computer surpasses humans in its detection of spelling errors which can be scanned and analyzed from any angle.
Repair of computer Report - At the Completion of the computer check, a report is generated of all issues found by the software which are in need of fixing. This price cannot be determined till the scan is actually carried out, as the number of issues found varies from Sefer to Sefer. Additionally, some are major issues requiring much time and some are minor. However, it is usually close to the number of issues, in dollars. After the Final Check, a Clean Report can be generated by request, confirming the repair of all issues found.
Tagim\Crowns - For the Kashrut of the Sefer there are three levels: Mehudar, Lechatchila, and Kosher Bediavad. To be Mehudar, it must be extremely perfect in many ways to accommodate the many different opinions of our Rabbis. To be Lechatchila, meaning kosher according to most opinions, it must have Tagim (crowns) on the following letters שעטנז גץ (picture) these are three crowns on the top left of each of these letters. Additionally, there is one crown on the following letters בדק חיה Bediavad, it is still Kosher without them according to Maran, however it should not be used when there are better options available.

There are many categories of problems possible, with Tagim, such as Tagim touching, disconnected, faded, incorrect placement, and incorrect size, and they can all affect its Halachic Status. However, there are also certain leniencies given to the Tagim more than the letters, such as Hak Tochot. According to most opinions they are not a part of the letter, just added on to the letters. Therefore, when the Status of the Tagim is acceptable to our standards, and there are just a few exceptions that need fixing, in such a case, throughout the checking and fixing the Tagim will also be fixed. However, when there are repeated problems in the build of the Tagim, the fixing of the crowns will be done only if the one responsible for the Sefer requests it, and will be priced and paid separate from the checking. Additionally, it may be carried out by a third party, not part of the Laniado Safrut Center, and all responsibilities will fall on the third party who carried it out.

Special Repairs - This category includes repairs such as: erasures of words-in order to complete missing letters, extra letters and substituted letters, including the rewriting of those letters. Similarly, fixing of any holes which invalidate the Sefer, and occasionally even aesthetic repairs, depending on the general status of the Sefer.
Sewing - The Strength of the Stitches will be tested, and when needed, repairing or replacing the stitching of the Sefer will be done with sinews of a kosher animal.
Matliyot - In Specific situations there is a need to add Matliyot which is parchment glued to the seams of the Sefer, in order to strengthen the connections of the parchments, or for the proper rolling of the Sefer. In some cases, there may be a need to replace old Matliyot that have worn out or add them in places where they are needed.
Straightening of the Parchments - Certain Sefarim need to have a process of Straightening, done by cutting a fraction of the bottom portion of the parchment. As much as the Halacha allows, it will be done, as it is a need for the Sefer.
Protective coat - The purpose is to strengthen the parchment or ink of the Sefer, and in order to minimize the chances of decay. The formula is specific for each Sefer and tested beforehand in order to ensure the best solution needed. Over the course of many years our formula has proven to give the best protection to extremely delicate parchment and ink.

However, this does not guarantee complete and total success in adhering the ink. In instances where our assessment and experience tell us that the chances of success are low, we will notify you before applying. Similarly, it must be taken into account that since the parchment comes from different hides in a processing plant that is all done by hand, the reaction of the strengthening agent formula will not be perfectly even all the way through. In case a specific page of parchment might need extra strengthening, we will add an extra layer of sealant at no cost. Extra strengthening layers will be free up to 20 percent of the total length of the whole Sefer torah.

The Poles of the Sefer (Asse Hayim) – Occasionally, the sewing of the parchment to the poles need strengthening, or the rolling mechanism needs new bearing or screws. These repairs will be done professionally by skilled workers to ensure smooth and proper rolling of the Sefer.
Final Check - After the required repairs another scan will be carried out by computer and a trained Magiah will visually check it to ascertain that the work was complete. This is with a desire that the Sefer Torah will go into the Hechal in the best way possible.
Pricing - the price is based off of the time needed for repairs; this is the reason it is possible for the price to change as explained earlier.
Certifications - Upon request, after the checking and repair of a Sefer, A letter will be given certifying that the Sefer had been properly checked and repaired. It will specify if it it was checked by computer and\or by hand, and will be given together with a USB\link to all the pictures of the Sefer. The USB should be kept as it is similar to the ID of the Sefer in case of theft, Has Veshalom.
Kashrut of the Sefer - It is known that the Kashrut of the Sefer is Dependent on the Sofer and many other factors. The Sofer must sanctify it verbally before writing and sanctify it every Hashems name Additionally, the Klaf and Ink have Halachot that cannot be verified after it is written. Therefore, the Responsibility of the Kashrut is on the Sofer, not the Magiah. However, if the Sofer had indeed done his part properly, the Chezkat Kashrut will be given by the Laniado Safrut Center.

Reading from the Sefer - The first year or two of reading the Sefer, is like an additional sifter, ensuring the kashrut of the Sefer.

Our Responsibilities – In case Has Veshalom, a mistake will be found in a Sefer checked by the Safrut Center, the one responsible for the Sefer should take a picture before fixing it, in order for us to determine when the mistake was made. The Rabbis of the center will determine if it is an issue in the kashrut of the Sefer, depending on the general status of the Sefer as said earlier, and if it is indeed pasul, it will be fixed inside the center when the Sefer is returned.

Note- Unintentional and non-negligent Issues that come up are not the responsibility of the center rather of the owner, this is because mistakes happen during a Thorough check and must be taken into consideration before checking.

Tefillin

Complete Tefillin Check and Repair Terms

The following categories are checked.

The Battim – Its type (Hand, Machine), Squareness, Blackness, Corners, Quality, and its size.
The Straps- Its type, Width, Blackness, and its coatings.
The Parchment - Its size, estimated age, quality, and cleanliness.
The Ink - Its quality, color, and percent humidity.
The Writing – Its type (Ashkenaz, Sephardic, Habad), shape of the letters, touching letters, disconnected\cracked letters, too close letters, too far letters, and the crowns.
The standard computer check and repairs.

Clarification: This Estimate is based off checking a standard 10–15-year-old Tefillin that was made by a reliable Sofer and kept in normal conditions. Many factors such as age, cold, heat, moisture, the writing, and the checking can affect the amount of time and work needed. Therefore, it is possible that during the repair to find other issues not seen at the time of the original estimate. Therefore, the final price can be higher or below the original estimate. In the situation that a difference is found, and the estimate was not correct, you will be notified accordingly. If you decide not to continue checking and repairing with the higher price, you may be charged for what was checked up to the 100 dollars.

Our General Plan:

1) The Tefillin straps and parchments are removed from the Batim.

2) Manual Check - The Tefillin parchment is visually checked from beginning to end letter-by-letter line-by-line by a certified Magiah. This is done with controlled lighting over the parchment to ensure no issues are overlooked. Minor issues found that invalidate the Tefillin including but not limited to touching, disconnected letters, and incorrect spaced words are then fixed by our Magihim.

4) Computer Check - This is done by capturing high quality images of the Tefillin parchment, and scanning it with the latest software to help catch any issues that may have been overlooked due to human error. All issues found are then repaired.

5)The Tefillin parchment is then inserted into the Battim, sewn together, glued, and the Titurah (Bottom level) is sanded and painted. Lastly, the straps are retied and the Battim are Shined.

General Timeframe for the work:

The estimated time of completion is 2-3 days. Same day service is available if dropped before 10 am and picked up by 9 pm, for an additional charge.

Pricing – Estimate:

1) Manual Check 100

2) Computer Check 20

3) Opening and closing 100

4) Expedited Same Day Service 50

5) Paint Straps 25

6) Reshape Corner 25

7) Fix Squareness of Battim 25-100

8) Fix Tagim 250

9) Fix Cracked and touching letters 100-200

10)New Straps 100-200

11) New Battim 750-1000

12) New Tefillin Parchment Mehudar 1200-1500

13) Tye Gid 10-40

14) Repaint Kesissah (top level) of Battim 25-75

Additional Charges may apply, please continue reading.

Payment Timeline:

At the end of the Work, the payment must be fully paid when the Tefillin are picked up which cannot be later than 14 days after completion of the work.

A notification will be sent when the work is done, and it is on condition to pick up the Tefillin and clear the balance within 14 day the notice is given. After 14 days There will be a safekeeping fee of 2 dollars a day, for every day the Tefillin is not picked up.

Any Tefillin not picked up after 30 days from when the notification of completion was given, will become property of the Laniado Safrut Center.

Our Detailed Plan with additional clarifications:

Opening - The Tefillin straps are removed by untying the knot of the Shel Rosh and pulling out the knot from the Shel Yad. If there is a Gid, it will be cut and can be retied for an additional fee and upon request. The Battim are opened with a strong blade and hammer. The parchment is taken out by hand or with the help of forceps. If it is stuck we will do our best to remove it carefully, nut if it is needed to be sent out top a third party, you will be notified and there will be an additional fee. The Laniado Safrut Center does not take responsibility if the scroll is damaged when removing the parchment.
The Shade of ink - A Tefillin must be written in Lasting Black ink. However, over time many problems can occur with the ink. When the problem is with the color of it- and it is not properly black because it has faded over time (5 years or more), in this instance we will add ink accordingly to comply with the Shita of the Hattam Sofer in his laws of colors of the ink and as we have learnt and taught by asking our rabbis.

Similarly, at times, the ink can crack, get erased, and not adhere to the parchment. This can occur due to the type of ink, parchment, processing chemicals, additives to the parchment or ink, or if it was written in a low humidity setting etc. If there is a crack that is recognizable, its halachic status is of conflicting opinions. You will be notified if it is Bediavad.

Renewing of the Letters – This is when the general condition of the Tefillin is not up to par, either because of the ink, the shape of the letters, extremely close, touching or cracked letters. As preparation ahead of the manual proofreading, it will be necessary to rebuild the Tefillin and bring it to a condition where it is fit to have a manual check. In this situation and throughout all the following checks and repairs that will be done, it should be noted that the maximum effort will be put in to address all the issues that need repair. However as much as the Magiah who is repairing the Tefillin has a higher number of problems and categories to repair so does the chance and possibility of skipping over a repair that needed to be done. This is because all the work is done by humans that can make mistakes especially in such situations which require deliberation and full attention.

The halachic status and decision for what to fix, will be by the Rabbis of the Center that have much experience and Shimush with Rabbanim fixing Safrut.

Repeated Issues - When there is a repeated issue in a letter or in many letters, The Safrut Center will point out to the Magihim the presence of the problem in order to commend the check with an awareness and stress on the issue. However as was previously said it is understandable some issues might be overlooked. Therefore, in order to find any oversights, we will also place an emphasis during the computer check to the Magiah to look over the common issues of the Sofer. However, even so there can be oversights, and it is possible to computer check using a PreCategorized scan, meaning isolating all of the problematic letters of the Tefillin (for example All Alephs) and going through each one separately. This demands more time, and is only done upon request, and is not included with the standard computer check.
Manual Check - This is done by a Certified Magiah and professional in his trade, but is not a rewriting or change in build, in any of the basis of the shape of the letters. Minor repairs such as touching or cracked letters that invalidate the Tefillin will be done within the allotted timeframe. However, if the checking is taking longer than average, for any reason, AND there are letters or crowns in need of fixing as deemed necessary by the Magiah, there will be an additional charge for the repair. This is usually around 100-300 dollars extra.
Tagim\Crowns - For the Kashrut of the Tefillin there are three levels: Mehudar, Lechatchila, and Kosher Bediavad. To be Mehudar, it must be extremely perfect in many ways to accommodate the many different opinions of our Rabbis. To be Lechatchila, meaning kosher according to most opinions, it must have Tagim (crowns) on the following letters שעטנז גץ (picture) these are three crowns on the top left of each of these letters. Additionally, there is one crown on the following letters בדק חיה Bediavad, it is still Kosher without them according to Maran, however it should not be used when there are better options available.

Special Repairs - This category includes repairs such as: Reshaping of the corners by softening the leather, straightening the Titura. Professional repainting the Battim or straps.
Computer Check - This Scan starts with an Ultra-High-resolution Camera, specially designed lenses, and bounced lighting that capture the most detailed and accurate pictures of the Tefillin. The pictures are sent directly to a computer designed for graphics processing. The Latest version of D-U-K software then analyzes each letter to detect any flaws in the letters or crowns. The computer shows thousands of letters not formed perfectly, however only some invalidate the Tefillin. Therefore, a keen eye and certified Magiah is then needed to properly select the issues that invalidate the letters. It is extremely common for mistakes to be overlooked at this stage, since there are so many letters being shown at once and only a few are true problems. Our Guarantee is as much as D-U-K gives, and the more issues found, raises the possibility of unfound issues. In such a case, an additional computer check will be recommended in order to scan another angle of the Tefillin. The reason being that a camera can only capture one angle, plus the software does not catch everything. Therefore, every additional angle and scan increases the chances of finding all the issues. The human eye sees many angles at once, and in most instances is more reliable. However, the capability of the computer surpasses humans in its detection of spelling errors which can be scanned and analyzed from any angle.
Final Check - After the required repairs a visual check will be carried out by a trained Magiah to ascertain that the work was complete. This is with a desire that the Tefillin will be put up in the best way possible.
Pricing - The price is based off of the time needed for repairs; this is the reason it is possible for the price to change as explained earlier.
Certifications – The Tefillin boxes are labeled that they were checked and dated. It is recommended to recheck every 7-10 years unless noted. Upon request, after the checking and repair of Tefillin, A letter will be given certifying that the Tefillin had been properly checked and repaired.
Kashrut of the Tefillin - It is known that the Kashrut of the Tefillin is Dependent on the Sofer and many other factors. The Sofer must sanctify it verbally before writing and sanctify it every Hashems name Additionally, the Klaf and Ink have Halachot that cannot be verified after it is written. Therefore, the Responsibility of the Kashrut is on the Sofer, not the Magiah. However, if the Sofer had indeed done his part properly, the Chezkat Kashrut will be given by the Laniado Safrut Center.

Note- Unintentional and non-negligent Pesulim are not the responsibility of the center rather of the owner, this is because mistakes happen during a Thorough check and must be taken into consideration before checking.

With the blessings of the Torah, The Laniado Safrut Center

Mezuzot

Complete Mezuzah Check and Repair

The following categories are checked.

The Parchment - Its size, estimated age, quality, strength, and inner and outer cleanliness.
The Ink - Its quality, color, and percent humidity.
The Writing – Its type (Ashkenaz, Sephardic, Habad), shape of the letters, touching letters, disconnected\cracked letters, too close letters, too far letters, and the crowns.
The standard computer check and repairs.

Clarification: This Estimates based off checking a standard 10–15-year-old Mezuzah that was checked every 3 and half years. Many factors such as age, water, sun and the writing and checking level can affect the amount of time and work needed. Therefore, it is possible that during the repair to find other issues not seen at the time of the original estimate. In the situation that a difference is found, and the estimate was not correct, you will be notified accordingly. If you decide not to continue checking and repairing with the higher price you may be charged for what was checked up to the total amount agreed in the original estimate.

Our General Plan:

1) The Mezuzah scroll is carefully removed from its wrapping.

2) Manual Check - The Mezuzah is checked visually from beginning to end letter-by-letter line-by-line by a certified Magiah. This is done with controlled lighting over the parchment to ensure no issues are overlooked. Minor issues found that invalidate the Mezuzah including but not limited to touching, disconnected letters, and incorrect spaced words are then fixed by our Magihim.

4) Computer Check - This is done by capturing high quality images of the Mezuzah, and scanning it with the latest software to help catch any issues that may have been overlooked due to human error. All issues found are then repaired.

5)Rolling and wrapping of the Mezuzah is done with a protective clear wrap to protect the Mezuzah from damage.

General Timeframe for the work:

The estimated time of completion is 2-3 Mezuzot daily, or 3 days for 15 Mezuzot.

Estimated Pricing

1) Manual Check 15

2) Computer Check 1

Additional Charges may apply, please continue reading.

Payment Methods:

Cash, checks payable to Laniado Safrut LLC, Zelle to 3473839216, and Venmo @laniadosafrut are all accepted. Credit card payments are subject to a 3% fee.

Payment Timeline:

At the end of the Work, the payment must be fully paid when the Mezuzot are picked up which cannot be later than 14 days after completion of the work.

A notification will be sent when the work is done, and it is on condition to pick up the Mezuzot and clear the balance within 14 day the notice is given. After 14 days There will be a safekeeping fee of 1$ a day, for every day the Mezuzot is not picked up.

Any Mezuzah not picked up after 30 days from when the notification of completion was given will become property of the Laniado Safrut Center.

Our Detailed Plan with additional clarifications:

Casing - The Mezuzah must first be removed from its casing. This should be done before brought to the Laniado Safrut Center. If it is brought in its casing there may be a dollar charge for its removal.
Unwrapping - The Wrapping of the Mezuzah is carefully removed by hand. Extreme care is taken not to fold the parchment which can cause the delicate letters to crack Often, the wrapping is wrapped tightly to the scroll and a razor blade is used. The Laniado Safrut Center does not take responsibility if the scroll gets damaged when removing the wrapping. One is welcome to remove the wrapping before giving it to the Center.
The Shade of ink - A Mezuzah must be written in Lasting Black ink. However, over time many problems can occur with the ink. When the problem is with the color of it- and it is not properly black because it has faded over time (5 years or more), in this instance we will add ink accordingly to comply with the Shita of the Hattam Sofer in his laws of colors of the ink and as we have learnt and taught by asking our rabbis.

Similarly, at times, the ink can crack, get erased, and not adhere to the parchment. This can occur due to the type of ink, parchment, processing chemicals, additives to the parchment or ink, or if it was written in a low humidity setting etc. If there is a crack that is recognizable, its halachic status is of conflicting opinions. Such a Mezuzah after repair, is Kosher Bediavad and will be marked with an orange dot.

Renewing of the Letters – This is when the general condition of the Mezuzah is not up to par, either because of the ink, the shape of the letters, extremely close, touching or cracked letters. As preparation ahead of the manual proofreading, it will be necessary to rebuild the Mezuzah and bring it to a condition where it is fit to have a manual check. In this situation and throughout all the following checks and repairs that will be done, it should be noted that the maximum effort will be put in to address all the issues that need repair. However as much as the Magiah who is repairing the Sefer has a higher number of problems and categories to repair so does the chance and possibility of skipping over a repair that needed to be done. This is because all the work is done by humans that can make mistakes especially in such situations which require deliberation and full attention.

The halachic status and decision for what to fix, will be by the Rabbis of the Center that have much experience and Shimush with Rabbanim fixing Safrut.

Repeated Issues - When there is a repeated issue in a letter or in many letters, The Safrut Center will point out to the Magihim the presence of the problem in order to commend the check with an awareness and stress on the issue. However as was previously said it is understandable some issues might be overlooked. Therefore, in order to find any oversights, we will also place an emphasis during the computer check to the Magiah to look over the common issues of the Sofer. However, even so there can be oversights, and it is possible to computer check using a PreCategorized scan, meaning isolating all of the problematic letters of the Mezuzah (for example All Alephs) and going through each one separately. This demands more time, and is only done upon request, and is not included with the standard computer check.
Manual Check - This is done by a Certified Magia and professional in his trade, but is not a rewriting or change in build, in any of the basis of the shape of the letters. Minor repairs such as touching or cracked letters that invalidate the Mezuzah will be done within the allotted timeframe. However, if the checking is taking longer than average, for any reason, AND there are letters or crowns in need of fixing as deemed necessary by the Magiah, there will be an additional charge for the repair. This is usually around 30-50 dollars extra each Mezuzah.
Tagim\Crowns - For the Kashrut of the Mezuzah there are three levels: Mehudar, Lechatchila, and Kosher Bediavad. To be Mehudar, it must be extremely perfect in many ways to accommodate the many different opinions of our Rabbis. To be Lechatchila, meaning kosher according to most opinions, it must have Tagim (crowns) on the following letters שעטנז גץ (picture) these are three crowns on the top left of each of these letters. Additionally, there is one crown on the following letters בדק חיה Bediavad, it is still Kosher without them according to Maran, however it should not be used when there are better options available.

There are many categories of problems possible, with Tagim, such as Tagim touching, disconnected, faded, incorrect placement, and incorrect size, and they can all affect its Halachic Status. However, there are also certain leniencies given to the Tagim more than the letters, such as Hak Tochot. According to most opinions they are not a part of the letter, just added on to the letters. Therefore, when the Status of the Tagim is acceptable to our standards, and there are just a few exceptions that need fixing, in such a case, throughout the checking and fixing the Tagim will also be fixed. However, when there are repeated problems in the build of the Tagim, the fixing of the crowns will be done only if the one responsible for the Mezuzah requests it, and will be priced and paid separate from the checking. Additionally, it may be carried out by a third party, not part of the Laniado Safrut Center, and all responsibilities will fall on the third party who carried it out.

Special Repairs - This category includes repairs such as: patches to the parchment, and removal of stickers\Markings.
Computer Check - This Scan starts with an Ultra-High-resolution Camera, specially designed lenses, and bounced lighting that capture the most detailed and accurate pictures of the Mezuzah. The pictures are sent directly to a computer designed for graphics processing. The Latest version of D-U-K software then analyzes each letter to detect any flaws in the letters or crowns. The computer shows thousands of letters not formed perfectly, however only some invalidate the Mezuzah. Therefore, a keen eye and certified Magiah is then needed to properly select the issues that invalidate the letters. It is extremely common for mistakes to be overlooked at this stage, since there are so many letters being shown at once and only a few are true problems. Our Guarantee is as much as D-U-K gives, and the more issues found, raises the possibility of unfound issues. In such a case, an additional computer check will be recommended in order to scan another angle of the Torah. The reason being that a camera can only capture one angle, plus the software does not catch everything. Therefore, every additional angle and scan increases the chances of finding all the issues. The human eye sees many angles at once, and in most instances is more reliable. However, the capability of the computer surpasses humans in its detection of spelling errors which can be scanned and analyzed from any angle.
Final Check - After the required repairs a quick scan will be carried out by a trained Magia to ascertain that the work was complete. This is with a desire that the Mezuzah will be put up in the best way possible.
Wrapping – The Mezuzah is rolled to fit our standard cases (5\8 inch). Smaller cases must be brought in to the Center with the Mezuzah in order for us to roll it to fit. All additional wrappings will be a dollar each.
Pricing - The price is based off of the time needed for repairs; this is the reason it is possible for the price to change as explained earlier.
Certifications - Upon request, after the checking and repair of Mezuzah, A letter will be given certifying that the Mezuzah had been properly checked and repaired.
Kashrut of the Mezuzah - It is known that the Kashrut of the Mezuzah is Dependent on the Sofer and many other factors. The Sofer must sanctify it verbally before writing and sanctify it every Hashems name Additionally, the Klaf and Ink have Halachot that cannot be verified after it is written. Therefore, the Responsibility of the Kashrut is on the Sofer, not the Magiah. However, if the Sofer had indeed done his part properly, the Chezkat Kashrut will be given by the Laniado Safrut Center.

With the blessings of the Torah, The Laniado Safrut Center