Look I get the opposing logic of kosher bedieved for cheap mezuzot where someone may otherwise not have a mezuzah.
This trend seems to be the cause of upwards economic mobility. No reason a quality sofer working l'shem shamayim should make less.
Machon Stam $40 entry level mezuzot passed muster, it just means the rest of the players need to get their act together.
My father wholly supports Rabbi Wolf and as much as my father is a kanoi and oh boy is my father machmir, he generally would find such a video expose to be grub and lashon Hara.
In this case my father while not lauding the style and method, agrees it was necessary.
Also from what I'm hearing, Rav Heller advises machon Stam and so can't really comment on this.
But if you read machon Stam site
The Sofer
The most essential element of any written parchment is thesofer. In addition to his individual integrity —being G-d-fearing and conscientious — it is imperative that thesofer is tested thoroughly and receives ksav kabbalah— certification from a reliable Rabbinic authority, ensuring that he knows the many detailed and complex laws of STa”M. This is of utmost importance because a sofer who is not completely fluent in the halochos of safrus could innocently and unknowingly invalidate a mezuzah or tefillin without anyone’s, even his, knowledge. When purchasing an item from a sofer with a reliable Rabbinic certification, the consumer can rest assured that his or her STa”M conforms strictly to all the laws and details of Shulchan Aruch,and all the customs of the different ksavim.
The Ksav
Of equal significance to the sofer’s integrity is the quality of his writing. There are many halachos pertaining to the writing of STa”M — as explained at length in Shulchan Aruch(The Code of Jewish Law)1 — and it is essential that the sofer be skillful and accurate in his writing of the letters from a halachic standpoint. Aesthetically, a “beautiful ksav” is a hiddur mitzvah that is cherished by many.
As stated on our Welcome Page, our number one priority is examining the reputations and qualifications of prospective sofrim to find those who, in addition to being honest and G-d-fearing, have received ksav kabbalah — certification from noted Rabbonim — and have handwriting of superior quality. This ensures the highest level of kashrus of every mezuzah, pair of tefillin and sefer Torah sold through MachonStam.
After each mezuzah and tefillin scroll is computer checked, it is then carefully hand-examined to ensure that all the tagim(crowns on the letters) are intact and proper. It is of utmost importance to us that we do not compromise on our standards.As an example of this, according to halachah, the letter lamed is written with two tagim. Kabbalah explains that the tag on the right side corresponds to kindness, and the one on the left, to severity. Consequently, it is of utmost importance that the right tag be taller than the left one, ultimately drawing down kindness from Above over the individual. Our customers appreciate the fact that even on our least expensive STa”M, we don’t compromise on the tagei lamed.
Whether you are looking for ksav AriZal, Alter Rebbe, Beis Yosef,or Sefard, MachonStam insures that the quality of your STa”M will be of the highest quality, from the least to the most expensive items in each category
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