A Note on the Rafeh Sign in the Kaufmann Mishna Codex / הערה על סימן הרפה בכתב יד קאופמן למשנה

Attention is drawn to the fact that in Ms. Kaufmann the rafeh sign is sometimes used to distinguish between final samekh and final mem, of very similar appearance. This rafeh may be of interest when the final letter is ambiguous (e.g., זיתם/זיתס) or when it reveals a different pronunciation tradition of the vocalizer (e.g., lotes for לוטם).