STAMP's Year of Milestones: Landmark Partnerships, Publications, and Programs Unveiled
/After months of hard work behind the scenes, STAMP is excited to announce reaching three major milestones. Each represents a leap forward for its mission, its partners, and the broader community.
official symbols of the central rabbinical congress (CRC)
CRC Partnership: Connecting with the Chasidic Community
STAMP is proud to announce a new partnership with the Central Rabbinical Congress (CRC) to provide kosher STa”M that meet the specific standards of the Chassidish community. The CRC plays an important role in the Chasidic community, similar to the Orthodox Union (OU) elsewhere. For the Chasidic community, certification requires a deep understanding of their unique sensitivities.
CRC/STAMP-certified mezuzahs are officially on the market. These mezuzahs look very similar to ones with an OU stamp, with subtle design differences, but with STAMP’s name still front and center, taking responsibility for their kashrut. This milestone is an achievement everyone at STAMP should be proud of.
World-renowned sofer (scribe) and Mishnas Mordechai author Rabbi Yaakov Zions
Ksav Ya'eh: A Sefer Twenty Years in the Making
Long before the CRC partnership began, another important project was quietly taking shape. Rabbi Yaakov Zions—a world-renowned posek (Jewish legal scholar) on STAMP’s staff—has spent two decades researching and writing a comprehensive sefer on the halachic intricacies of the shapes of each Hebrew letter written in STa”M (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzot). Three years ago, he approached STAMP about the possibility of publishing the sefer. After significant investment, the finished sefer, Ksav Ya'eh*, was recently printed and delivered.
This is a major milestone for Rabbi Zions, STAMP, and the world of sofrim (scribes) and magihim (checkers). Publishing an original sefer is a badge of honor in the Charedi world, and this work fills a real need, addressing often-unexplored details. We celebrated the launch at our office, with rabbanim attending and sharing insights. The finished work, known as the Mayberg Edition, cements STAMP’s commitment to scholarship and support for safrus professionals.
An Innovative Work/Study Kollel/STa”M Program
The third major achievement began when Rabbi Aharon Rohinsky, a sofer, proposed a new STa”M-focused kollel, Safrei Davkanei**, operating under STAMP's rabbinic leadership. Rabbi Rohinsky’s vision was to create more than just a yeshiva. This kollel would train sofrim, magihim, and poskim, empowering them to serve the community. The founder's financial support enabled a two-year program where participants receive stipends, simultaneously building a pipeline of new leaders.
The response was phenomenal. Instead of the anticipated 20-30 learners total, four branches have opened – two in Yerushalayim, one in Beit Shemesh, and one in Bnei Brak – each with around 20 participants. Community and board feedback has been exceptionally positive.
Looking Ahead
With CRC-certified mezuzahs out in the world, the landmark sefer now a reality, and a flourishing new kollel network, STAMP is entering an exciting new era.
*The book’s title, “Ksav Ya’eh” (כתב יאה), uses the Hebrew letters י-א-ה, which are not only the initials of the author but also form a word that means “beautiful.” So, the title is a clever nod both to the author’s name and to the idea of “beautiful writing.”
**The kollel’s name is a reference to the gemara in Menachos 29b that describes what it takes to be "Exacting Scribes"