Hundreds of Mezuzahs and Tefillin Found Non-Kosher in Ashdod

An initiative by the Ashdod Religious Council to inspect mezuzahs and tefillin has revealed that hundreds of these sacred items are non-kosher, primarily due to damage from heat and humidity. The inspections, which began at the start of the Hebrew month of Elul and are being conducted by certified scribes using both manual and computerized methods, have uncovered significant Halachic (Jewish law) issues.

Many residents, preparing for the High Holy Days, sought to ensure their religious items were in proper condition. However, the examinations found that in numerous cases, words were erased from the parchment or letters had detached from the klaf (parchment). The Religious Council attributes the majority of the damage to environmental factors, such as leaving tefillin in hot vehicles, where temperatures can reach approximately 60 degrees Celsius, or water damage to mezuzahs from cleaning during holiday preparations.

Rabbi Haim Shimon Pinto, the Chief Rabbi of Ashdod, expressed sorrow over the findings but emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that these rigorous checks prevent people from reciting blessings in vain or failing to fulfill commandments. Due to the scale of the problem and high demand, Rabbi Pinto has extended the inspection campaign by an additional month, beyond the holiday period.

Rabbi Ovadia Dahan, Chairman of the Religious Council, stressed the strict standards applied, declaring, "We have set an iron rule: 99 percent kosher is 100 percent non-kosher. Just like in safety, in Halacha there is no room for approximation." To make the service accessible, the inspection of the parchment itself is free, while the opening and closing of tefillin are subsidized by over 50%, costing only 100 shekels, and mezuzah inspections cost just 10 shekels.