Halachot of the Building of the Shul: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:08, 14 January 2014

The local Jewish community can force its members to pay for the building of a Shul and buying a Tanach.^[1] Nowadays, the community can even force its members to pay for buying other sefarim such as mishna and shulchan aruch.^[2]
The Shul should be built at a high elevation in the town. Additionally, it should be the tallest building in the town with the exception of buildings that aren't used for dwelling space. ^[3]

In general, it is prohibited to sell the bet knesset of a city. However, it is permissible to sell the bet knesset of a village. ^[4]

One shouldn't be involved in light-headedness, frivolity, idle chatter, eating, or drinking in a Shul.^[5]
One shouldn't lounge around or adorn oneself in the Shul. ^[6]
One shouldn't enter the Shul to protect oneself from the sun or rain. ^[7]
A Talmud Chacham may eat or drink in a Shul if it is necessary. ^[8] Some say that a Talmid Chacham may eat or drink in a Beit Midrash. ^[9]
One should perform calculations unless it is for a mitzvah in a Shul. ^[10]
A eulogy shouldn't take place in a Shul unless it is a eulogy for one of the greats of the town and everyone is coming to the eulogy. ^[11]
If one needs to get someone in a Shul, one should walk inside, learn a little bit and then call that person. If one doesn't know how to learn one may wait inside the Shul a little bit (the time it takes to walk 8 Tefachim) and then call that person since just sitting in a Shul is a mitzvah.^[12]
One may not sleep in a Shul, however, it is permitted to sleep temporarily in a Beit HaMidrash. ^[13]
One may not make a Shul into a shortcut. However, if the Shul was built in place of a path, it is permitted to continue using that path even after the Shul was built.^[14]

It is prohibited to demolish a bet knesset in order to build a new one. Rather, a new bet knesset must be built and then the old one can be taken down. ^[15]
The same law applies regarding a bet midrash, and it does not make a difference whether the ownership is public or private. ^[16]
It also does not matter if a more beautiful bet knesset will be built as a result of demolishing the current one. ^[17]

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 ==Activities Appropriate for a Shul==
 # One shouldn't be involved in light-headedness, frivolity, idle chatter, eating, or drinking in a Shul.<Ref>S"A 151:1</ref>
+# One shouldn't lounge around or adorn oneself in the Shul. <Ref>S"A 151:1</ref>
+# One shouldn't enter the Shul to protect oneself from the sun or rain. <Ref>S"A 151:1</ref>
+# A Talmud Chacham may eat or drink in a Shul if it is necessary. <Ref>S"A 151:1</ref> Some say that a Talmid Chacham may eat or drink in a Beit Midrash. <Ref>Rama 151:1</ref>
+# One should perform calculations unless it is for a mitzvah in a Shul. <Ref>S"A 151:1</ref>
+# A eulogy shouldn't take place in a Shul unless it is a eulogy for one of the greats of the town and everyone is coming to the eulogy. <Ref>S"A 151:1</ref>
+# If one needs to get someone in a Shul, one should walk inside, learn a little bit and then call that person. If one doesn't know how to learn one may wait inside the Shul a little bit (the time it takes to walk 8 [[Tefachim]]) and then call that person since just sitting in a Shul is a mitzvah.<Ref>S"A 151:1</ref>
+# One may not sleep in a Shul, however, it is permitted to sleep temporarily in a Beit HaMidrash. <Ref>S"A 151:3</ref>
+# One may not make a Shul into a shortcut. However, if the Shul was built in place of a path, it is permitted to continue using that path even after the Shul was built.<Ref>S"A 151:5</ref>
 ==Dismantling a Bet Knesset==