Acquiring and Maintaining Stam

From Halachipedia

Stam (Heb. סת"ם) is a contraction for Sefer Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzah. Generally these are holy works of the written Torah that are handcrafted and handwritten on parchment. There are many practical considerations when acquiring one for a mitzvah that will be disccuseed on this page. Also, upkeeping Stam in a respectful and proper manner befitting their holiness is the topic of this page.

Mezuzot

Unused Mezuzot

  1. A kosher mezuzah shouldn't be left unused in one's house. It should be sold, rented, or lent out to be used for a mitzvah.[1]

Geniza

  1. An unfit mezuzah must be placed in geniza to be burial with honor.[2]
  2. The plastic saran wrap around the klaf of the mezuzah also needs geniza since it functions a holy article and is considered a tashmishei kedusha.[3]
  3. The mezuzah case that does not touch the actual klaf if it is just a simple case to house the mezuzah after it is finished being used can be discarded respectfully. If it is a nice case made to beautify the mezuzah the case is considered a tashmishei kedusha and needs geniza. Alternatively, if a case touches the klaf itself it is a tashmishei kedusha and needs geniza.[4]

Checking Mezuzot

See the Mezuzah#Having_One.27s_Mezuzot_Checked page.

Tefillin

Sefer Torah

Sources

  1. ↑ Agur Bohalecha 4:33 writes that it is disrespectful to a mezuzah that it should be left unused for a mitzvah.
  2. ↑ Agur Bohalecha 4:35
  3. ↑ Shulchan Aruch O.C. 154:3
  4. ↑ Agur Bohalecha 9:26 based on Mishna Brurah 154:14
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