Writing a Sefer Torah: Difference between revisions
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==General Laws== | ==General Laws== | ||
# Writing or fixing just one letter in a sefer torah is a fulfillment of this mitzvah.<ref> Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:1)</ref> | # Writing or fixing just one letter in a sefer torah is a fulfillment of this mitzvah.<ref> Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:1)</ref> | ||
# Buying an already written sefer torah according to some opinions is a fulfillment of writing a sefer torah, while according to others it isn't a fulfillment of the mitzvah.<ref>Rashi Menachot 30a s.v. Kechotef and Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Asin n. 18) imply that one does fulfill the mitzvah when one buys a sefer torah. However, the Rama YD 270:1 writes that one does not fulfill the mitzvah.</ref> | # Buying an already written sefer torah according to some opinions is a fulfillment of writing a sefer torah, while according to others it isn't a fulfillment of the mitzvah.<ref>Rashi Menachot 30a s.v. Kechotef and Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Asin n. 18) imply that one does fulfill the mitzvah when one buys a sefer torah. However, the Rama YD 270:1 writes that one does not fulfill the mitzvah. Gra 70:4 agrees with Rashi that it is a fulfillment of the mitzvah.</ref> | ||
# Some say that buying Sefarim is a fulfillment of this mitzvah. Additionally, one shouldn't sell a sefer except in order to learn torah or to get married.<ref>Rosh (Hilchot Sefer Torah n. 1) writes that nowadays that the sefer torah is left in shul for public torah reading, there is a mitzvah for every Jew to write a chumash, mishna, gemara, and commentaries in order to be able to learn Torah. This codified in Shulchan Aruch YD 270:2.</ref> | # Some say that buying Sefarim is a fulfillment of this mitzvah. Additionally, one shouldn't sell a sefer except in order to learn torah or to get married.<ref>Rosh (Hilchot Sefer Torah n. 1) writes that nowadays that the sefer torah is left in shul for public torah reading, there is a mitzvah for every Jew to write a chumash, mishna, gemara, and commentaries in order to be able to learn Torah. This codified in Shulchan Aruch YD 270:2.</ref> | ||
==Who is obligated to write a Sefer Torah?== | ==Who is obligated to write a Sefer Torah?== | ||
# Men are obligated to write a sefer torah.<Ref>Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:1), Shulchan Aruch YD 270:1</ref> | # Men are obligated to write a sefer torah.<Ref>Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:1), Shulchan Aruch YD 270:1</ref> | ||
Revision as of 16:45, 28 September 2018
There is a positive mitzvah to write a Sefer Torah[1] learned from the pasuk "ועתה כתבו לכם את השירה הזאת".[2] Some explain that the mitzvah of writing a Sefer Torah is supposed to facilitate learning Torah.[3]
General Laws
- Writing or fixing just one letter in a sefer torah is a fulfillment of this mitzvah.[4]
- Buying an already written sefer torah according to some opinions is a fulfillment of writing a sefer torah, while according to others it isn't a fulfillment of the mitzvah.[5]
- Some say that buying Sefarim is a fulfillment of this mitzvah. Additionally, one shouldn't sell a sefer except in order to learn torah or to get married.[6]
Who is obligated to write a Sefer Torah?
Materials
- A sefer torah may only be written on the hide of a kosher animal or bird. It may not be written on the hide of a non-kosher animal, bird, or the skin of any fish.[9]
- A sefer torah may be written on the hide of animals that are from kosher species even if that animal itself is a Terefah or Nevelah. [10]
Text
- Yemenite Sifrei Torah have symbols for the end of a Pasuk, for example, pressed in to the parchment with a metal instrument. This way, the reader is informed of certain stopping points and pronunciations. Such scrolls are even Kosher for Ashkenazim to read from, but only Yemenites should be exercising this practice. Bediavad, Ashkenazi Sifrei Torah would also be Kosher, but it's not recommended Lechatechilah.[11]
Sources
- ↑ Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Asin #18), Sefer HaChinuch (n. 613)
- ↑ Devarim 31:19
- ↑ Rosh (Hilchot Sefer Torah n. 1)
- ↑ Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:1)
- ↑ Rashi Menachot 30a s.v. Kechotef and Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Asin n. 18) imply that one does fulfill the mitzvah when one buys a sefer torah. However, the Rama YD 270:1 writes that one does not fulfill the mitzvah. Gra 70:4 agrees with Rashi that it is a fulfillment of the mitzvah.
- ↑ Rosh (Hilchot Sefer Torah n. 1) writes that nowadays that the sefer torah is left in shul for public torah reading, there is a mitzvah for every Jew to write a chumash, mishna, gemara, and commentaries in order to be able to learn Torah. This codified in Shulchan Aruch YD 270:2.
- ↑ Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:1), Shulchan Aruch YD 270:1
- ↑ The Rambam writes that the mitzvah of writing a sefer torah does not apply to women. The Shagat Aryeh (Siman 35) questions this. He explains that the understanding behind the mitzvah of writing a sefer torah is that a person should prepare a sefer torah for himself so that he’s able to learn from it. If so, since women need to learn the laws that are relevant to them, they should be obligated to write a sefer torah. The Bet HaLevi 1:6 answers that fundamentally women aren’t obligated to learn torah. While it is true that they are obligated to learn about the mitzvot that they are obligated in, that’s only as a preparation of fulfilling the mitzvah, but not as a part of the mitzvah of learning torah in general. The obligation of men to learn torah is all encompassing; they are obligated to learn all of torah, even about the mitzvot that aren’t relevant to him.
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch YD 271:1. Gemara Shabbat 108a has an unresolved question as to whether one may use the skin of kosher fish for the writing of a sefer torah. The Shulchan Aruch YD 271:1 rules that one may not use fish skins even of kosher fish.
- ↑ Briatta quoted on Gemara Shabbat 108a, Shulchan Aruch YD 271:1
- ↑ Shu"t Revid HaZahav based on Shu"t HaRivash (Siman 286) and Rama (Yoreh De'ah 274), Shu"t Iggerot Moshe Yoreh De'ah vol. 3 Siman 117
