Question:
I have mezuzot in my home written according to the ktav (writing) of the Beit Yosef. May I put up a mezuza which follows the Arizal or the Alter Rebbe?
Answer:
There is a rule in halacha that even when two conflicting opinions are both acceptable, one may not follow both of them at the same time (tarti d’satrei – two that contradict). Indeed, there are opinions who apply this to the writing styles of STaM (sefer Torah, tefillin and mezuzot). According to this, one must make sure all the mezuzot in his home are of one ktav, and according to some he should not take an aliya to the Torah while wearing tefillin of a different ktav. Yet, the majority of the acharonim (later halachic authorities) reject this concern. They argue that unlike a machloket (disagreement) in halacha, the differences in ktav are merely stylistic variations and are only a question of added hiddur (beautification of the mitzvah).
While rishonim (earlier halachic authorities) discuss these styles, and several of them have special significance according to kabbalah, they are nevertheless all halachically acceptable and do not present a tarti d’satrei. Furthermore, some argue that each door is an independent mitzva and there is therefore not a direct contradiction.
Although it is permissible, there is room to be mehader (stringent) that all mezuzot of one’s home should be of the same ktav.
Adapted from Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin, Chabad Rav of Petach Tikva, reprinted from The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash, on-line at TheWeeklyFarbrengen.com
