Frequently asked questions
Q.
What is STAM?
A.
STAM is an acronym for Sifrei Torah, Tefilin and Mezuzos. A Sofer STAM is a ritual scribe who writes these religious articles (also Megilos and Nevi’im) using traditional methods and materials. Besides learning the calligraphic technique used to write the letters, a Sofer STAM must memorize the many thousands of laws that govern the shapes of the letters and the way they are written.
Q.
A.
No. I am only certified to write STAM. As noted in Purchasing STAM: part 3, the certification for checking STAM covers a wider range of source material and involves significant additional training.
Q.
Can you recommend someone who can check my mezuzos?
A.
Maybe. As a result of some experiences with recommendations I’ve made in the past, I am no longer able to recommend any magi’ah that I don’t have positive personal experience with. There is a short list of people I currently rely on for my own work, but it does change from time to time. Contact me to discuss options.
Q.
I found a mistake/damage in a Sefer Torah/megila/navi. Can you fix it?
A.
I can do small touch-ups on local Sifrei Torah, nevi’im and megilos – usually free of charge. More elaborate work will incur a modest fee. Extensive corrections to a badly damaged sefer are outside my area of expertise and should be brought to a professional magi’ah.
Q.
I’m moving tomorrow. Can you sell me 15 mezuzos right now?
A.
Although on rare occasions I may have a few mezuzos in stock, the vast majority of my work is made-to-order. Assuming I have no other pressing obligations, I can usually write 1–2 mezuzos a day. I do have a gemach with a limited number of mezuzos that I can lend out as a temporary solution while I write your mezuzos, but the loaner mezuzos are not always available. The best course of action would be to order the mezuzos well in advance to avoid complications.
Q.
My son will start putting on tefilin in 3 months. Is that enough time to order a pair of tefilin?
A.
I can write a set of parshi’os in under a week (assuming there are no other orders with looming deadlines); however I do not make the batim myself, and I can’t guarantee they can be ready on such short notice. A good rule-of-thumb is to order tefilin 6–9 months in advance. 12 months is even better.
Q.
Can I buy parshi’os from you and get batim elsewhere?
A.
Absolutely. Most of the well-known batim manufacturers would be happy to put together a pair of tefilin with third-party parshi’os. See Purchasing STAM: part 5 for information about choosing a batim- and retzu’os-supplier.
Q.
I need a pair of tefilin right now. Do you have a pair I can borrow?
A.
I do not have an extra pair of tefilin at this time.
Q.
I want to compare prices, but I don’t see any prices listed on your Products page. Why not?
A.
The prices can fluctuate based on currency exchange rates, quantities, and other options. Contact me privately and I would be happy to give you a price quote.
Q.
I really like the pictures on your site. Are they available for reuse?
A.
Some of my photos are available for licensing on a case-by-case basis. See the photo licensing page for more information.
Q.
Are you also a professional singer and musician?
A.
I am not Eitan Katz the singer. We are not related. We have met on one or two occasions.
Q.
I have a question that’s not answered in this FAQ. What do I do?
A.
Go to the Contact page to send me an email – I’d be happy to answer any question I can. If your question is not too obscure I can even add it to this FAQ for future reference.
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