Rabbi Yerachmiel Askotzky, a respected, veteran sofer and leading magia (examiner) and batim expert, founded STAM, an acronym for Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzos, in 1988 to educate and provide examinations, repairs and sales of Sifrei Torah, neviim, megillahs, tefillin and mezuzahs to communities, rabbis, kiruv organizations, stores and individuals worldwide.
Rabbi Askotzky merited to do shimush (apprenticeship) under and maintain a nearly 30 year relationship with Harav Mordechai Friedlander zt"l, a renown STaM authority, leading posek and close confidante of Harav Elyashiv zt"l .
Rabbi Askotzky is the author of Tefillin & Mezuzos, A sofer shows you how to choose, maintain and understand your tefillin, mezuzos and Torah scrolls, Targum Press 2003 as well as online articles and a popular tefillin placement poster. Rabbi Askotzky is working on another Stam related book, which will hopefully be ready for publication in the not too distant future.
In 2025, after a number of years of behind the scenes support for STAMP (The STaM Project), Rabbi Askotzky began collaborating with STAMP to also offer mezuzahs with STAMP certification and OU approval. Even with STAMP's high standards, dutiful oversight and assistance to the sofrim, Rabbi Askotzky continues to maintain a relationship with all sofrim he represents to ensure that he remains content with their standard of writing and to be able to continue to provide them with guidance for improvement. He also does an occasional 3rd manual exam on a few mezuzahs to ensure his satisfaction with the quality of checking.
Rabbi Askotzky is also the mezuzah procurement director and kashrus supervisor for MyZuzah, a non profit initiative founded by the Mayberg foundation, with the mission to put a quality kosher mezuzah on Jewish home's globally and on IDF bases. Rabbi Askotzky's obligations include sourcing 1000's of quality, mezuzahs each year from qualified sofrim with up to date certification and ensuring each mezuzah meets his kashrus standard via computer check and manual exam by 2 certified and experienced examiners. Myzuzah's goal is to partner with STAMP.
STAMP is a nonprofit organization, operating under the direct supervision and guidance of a number of the STaM industry’s leading rabbonim. Their sole mission is to restore transparency and reliability to the world of STaM via creating a worldwide STaM market that is unambiguous and regulated.
What is a STAMP mezuzah?
STAMP takes full responsibility for kashrus and reliability of every item it certifies.
STAMP is creating a system that ensures halachic compliance. Just like the field of food kashrus has progressed dramatically in the past 100 years, their goal is that, by raising public awareness through education, the demand for STaM certification will transform the level of halachic compliance throughout the field, and provide the consumer with the best quality possible.
OU Approval
The Orthodox Union, OU, through its STaM Pikuach (oversight) Initiative, is a partner and promoter of STAMP’s work. The OU symbol accompanies all STAMP-certified mezuzos to signify the OU’s approval of the supervision process.
In addition to offering STAMP certified, OU approved mezuzahs, available for online purchase and by custom, retail and wholesale, order, Rabbi Askotzky continues to offer Sifrei Torah, tefillin sets and parshios, mezuzahs, megillahs, neviim, batim, retzuos (tefillin straps) and all related Judaica.
Read Inside STaM by Rabbi Reuvain Mendlowitz and Rabbi Askotzky's book, Tefillin and Mezuzos then consult a rav with expertise in STaM.
The expertise, piety and quality of the handwriting varies widely among sofrim, even those who're certified. Work with an expert to find a sofer that meets your desired standard and budget.
One can't assume that just because a sofer is a family friend or relative or that he's righteous or learns Torah all day that he's the right sofer for you.
Even once the right sofer is found, it's by no means a given that he can be relied on to oversee or recommend examiners or a batim expert.
Many sellers of STaM are negligent and only do one manual exam. In addition, the examiner is generally paid a low and flat amount per mezuzah, parshios and sefer Torah and is often under a time constraint. He's also often not informed by the sofer or seller hiring him as to the level of kashrus he expects. This often results in the examiner only checking to ensure minimal kashrus and overlooking problems once too often. Also, how can one expect quality and thorough service if the examiner is paid the same whether a mezuzah takes 6 or 12 minutes or whether parshios take 30 or 60 minutes to check?
One must select, if need be with professional assistance, certified and capable examiners and appropriately compensate them to ensure that their STaM is patiently and thoroughly checked and that it meets the desired and intended standard.
It's also critical that the sofer, examiner and seller have a relationship with an expert STaM authority so all questions are properly answered.
There are many batim makers. Some produce in volume, often referred to as "factory" made, some in small volume (boutique maker) and "private" makers make in very small numbers.
The quality, halachic level and cost vary, even significantly, from maker to maker.
Some batim are made without any independent supervision and the standards and thoroughness of the supervision on batim with a hechsher varies.
Similarly, the halachic standards and thoroughness of the hechsherim on retzuos also vary.
There's also the consideration of hand vs. machine made and black through and through vs. traditional.
Hence, one should consult an expert to identify batim and retzuos that meet your desired standard and budget.
A STAMP certified, OU approved mezuzah's higher cost is due to the extensive exam process and the examiners receiving fair and hourly wages.
In addition, while STAMP is funded in part by the Mayberg Foundation and others, a modest service fee per mezuzah is necessary to enable STAMP to meet its needs and goals.
Call, text or WhatsApp Rabbi Askotzky with your inquiries or to request professional guidance.
