About Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m
Who we are, our mission, and the halachic oversight behind every certification.
Who We Are
Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m
Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m (VMS) was established in 1976 by Rabbis Dovid Leib Greenfield and Shmuel Eliyahu Granatstien under the guidance of Harav Shmuel Halevi Wosner zt"l to ensure the halachic standards of Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzos (Sta"m). The VMS gained the support of many prominent Jewish leaders and partnered with the Eidah Hachareidis to require Sofrim (scribes) to be certified in their knowledge of the Halachos (Jewish laws) of Sta"m.
Our Mission
Upholding the Kedusha of Sta"m
At Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m, our mission is to uphold the sanctity and precision of Sta"m by providing oversight and ensuring that every Sefer Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzah meets halachic standards. We are committed to building a community of knowledgeable Sofrim who are trained with the halachic knowledge necessary for their work. Every certified Sofer under our guidance reflects our dedication to preserving the kedushah of Sta"m.
Halachic Oversight & Rabbinic Leadership
From its inception, VMS has operated under the guidance of leading Poskim. Our oversight and rabbinic leadership are shaped by ongoing halachic challenges in the landscape of Sta"m. This ensures that both Sofrim and consumers have the halachic clarity and guidance they need when writing and using Sta"m.
Inside Sta"m — True Stories
The following is reprinted with permission from Inside Sta"m by Rabbi Reuven Mendlowitz:
Directly across the hall from my office lived a divorced mother of two. Although I was unaware of all the details of her divorce, it was clear that she was going through a difficult time. One day there was a knock on my door. As soon as I opened the door, she blurted out, "Could you please check my mezuzos immediately — my whole life is upside down, and I can't live this way anymore! Nothing is normal in my life, nor in my children's lives; everything is topsy-turvy." I found it difficult to refuse such a request, and right away began the process of removing the cases from the doorposts. She was only a bit more shocked than I was when I discovered that the mezuzos on the front door, her bedroom door and her children's bedroom door had been resting inside their cases upside down! The problem was rectified and, shortly thereafter, she remarried and settled back into a normal life.
— Anonymous
A friend of mine had a child who was born prematurely. From birth, the child had difficulty breathing properly, and would occasionally stop breathing altogether in the middle of the night! Tragedy was averted numerous times (ב"ה) by setting up a breathing monitor every time the child went to sleep. When the child was about a year old, the father came to me and said, "I am sure that there must be a problem with the mezuzos; would you please check them?" Can you guess which words had been damaged by water? ושננתם לבניך! The mezuzah was replaced, and ב"ה the child is doing fine.
— Anonymous
Hear From Rabbonim
Words of the Gedolim
The Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m fulfills a critical need in our community. We are careful about the kashrus of our food, yet many of the Sta"m items in use today lack proper oversight. This organization is addressing that gap in a responsible and essential way.
HaRav Asher Weiss
The Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m has witnessed countless heartbreaking cases where Sta"m items turned out to be pasul or seriously flawed. It is an organization devoted to preventing these tragedies by raising standards and ensuring true kashrus in this vital area.
HaRav Yaakov Zions
The Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m serves as an arm of the Gedolei Yisroel, established to ensure that all of Klal Yisroel has access to kosher and reliable Sta"m. Its mission is a continuation of the responsibility of our leaders to safeguard mitzvos.
HaRav Yosef HaKohen Fund
Maran Rav Wosner zt"l once said that his "ticket to Gan Eden" was that he helped establish the Vaad Mishmeres Sta"m. That alone reflects the immense significance and impact of this organization.
HaRav Moshe Shaul Klein
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