Respecting Holy Books: Difference between revisions
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There are a number of Halachot that define how a person should properly respect all holy books (Sefarim).<ref>See Taz YD 271 (at the end) and Pitchei Teshuva 282:8 who hold that printed Sefarim must be treated respectfully just like a hand-written Sefer.</ref> According to some, the obligation of respecting holy books is from the Torah. <ref> There are several approaches as to the basis for the obligation to respect a sefer. | There are a number of Halachot that define how a person should properly respect all holy books (Sefarim).<ref>See Taz YD 271 (at the end) and Pitchei Teshuva 282:8 who hold that printed Sefarim must be treated respectfully just like a hand-written Sefer.</ref> According to some, the obligation of respecting holy books is from the Torah. <ref> There are several approaches as to the basis for the obligation to respect a sefer. | ||
* '''Respecting a Sefer like Respecting a Talmid Chacham''': The Emek Bracha (Kavod Sefer Torah p. 43) proves from the Gra YD 282 that the obligation of respecting sefarim is based on the concept of respecting a Talmid Chacham who is a walking Sefer Torah. This approach is supported by the gemara Kiddushin 33b that one must stand for a Sefer Torah just like one is obligated to do for a Talmid Chacham (which Iggerot Moshe OC 5:38:1 writes is | * '''Respecting a Sefer like Respecting a Talmid Chacham''': The Emek Bracha (Kavod Sefer Torah p. 43) proves from the Gra YD 282 that the obligation of respecting sefarim is based on the concept of respecting a Talmid Chacham who is a walking Sefer Torah. This approach is supported by the gemara Kiddushin 33b that one must stand for a Sefer Torah just like one is obligated to do for a Talmid Chacham (which Iggerot Moshe OC 5:38:1 writes is biblical). He continues that in fact just as there is a mitzvah to have awe of one’s rebbe the same applies to a sefer torah. For example, the prohibition to bring a sefer torah to a person instead of him walking to it is based on the obligation of awe one needs to show a sefer torah. | ||
* '''Respecting Sefarim is Respecting Hashem''': Bamidbar Rabba 8:3 learns from the pasuk "כי מכבדי אכבד ובזי יקלו" Shmuel 1:2 that the mitzvah of giving respect to Hashem includes the obligation to give respect to a Sefer Torah. Kiseh Rachamim (Avot Drabbi Natan 27:1, cited by Kavod Hasefarim p. 67) explained that even though the pasuk is speaking about giving respect to Hashem, chazal understood this to include kavod to the Torah since the Zohar says that the Torah is the revelation of Hashem's essence so respecting Torah is respecting him. Similarly, HaChasid Yavetz Avot 4 writes that one should treat sefarim with respect like one would treat the clothes of king with dignity because Torah is an expression of Hashem in the world. Pelah Yoetz (“sefer”) cites this analogy as well. The general obligation to respect sefarim can be found in Avot 4:6 which states that anyone who respects Torah will have his body respected. Rashi ad loc., Rabbenu Yonah ad loc., and Sefer Chasidim 916 understand that the mishna is obliging a person to respect sefarim. | * '''Respecting Sefarim is Respecting Hashem''': Bamidbar Rabba 8:3 learns from the pasuk "כי מכבדי אכבד ובזי יקלו" Shmuel 1:2 that the mitzvah of giving respect to Hashem includes the obligation to give respect to a Sefer Torah. Kiseh Rachamim (Avot Drabbi Natan 27:1, cited by Kavod Hasefarim p. 67) explained that even though the pasuk is speaking about giving respect to Hashem, chazal understood this to include kavod to the Torah since the Zohar says that the Torah is the revelation of Hashem's essence so respecting Torah is respecting him. Similarly, HaChasid Yavetz Avot 4 writes that one should treat sefarim with respect like one would treat the clothes of king with dignity because Torah is an expression of Hashem in the world. Pelah Yoetz (“sefer”) cites this analogy as well. The general obligation to respect sefarim can be found in Avot 4:6 which states that anyone who respects Torah will have his body respected. Rashi ad loc., Rabbenu Yonah ad loc., and Sefer Chasidim 916 understand that the mishna is obliging a person to respect sefarim. | ||
* '''Yirat Hashem''': Mesilat Yesharim ch. 19 s.v. vheneh dibarnu explains that respecting a sefer is included in Yirat Hashem which includes respecting him. Specifically he includes in that category beautifying a sefer Torah and not disrespecting it by touching the klaf directly. This approach can be an expression of the last one since he considers the mitzvah respecting Hashem to be an expression of Yirat Hashem. | * '''Yirat Hashem''': Mesilat Yesharim ch. 19 s.v. vheneh dibarnu explains that respecting a sefer is included in Yirat Hashem which includes respecting him. Specifically he includes in that category beautifying a sefer Torah and not disrespecting it by touching the klaf directly. This approach can be an expression of the last one since he considers the mitzvah respecting Hashem to be an expression of Yirat Hashem. | ||
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* The Rif Brachot 11a however implies that it is only permitted to place a Sefer Torah on the donkey to avoid danger but there's no leniency of placing it behind oneself. Rabbenu Yonah Brachot 11a s.v. ukederech and Rosh 3:7 understand the Rif as such. | * The Rif Brachot 11a however implies that it is only permitted to place a Sefer Torah on the donkey to avoid danger but there's no leniency of placing it behind oneself. Rabbenu Yonah Brachot 11a s.v. ukederech and Rosh 3:7 understand the Rif as such. | ||
* Yerushalmi Brachot 28a states that it is permitted to carry a bag of Sefarim behind you. However, the Rosh 3:7 implies that this Yerushalmi is not be accepted according to the Rif. The Tur 282:3 cites a dispute if there's no danger whether it is permitted to carry a Sefer Torah behind one's back. | * Yerushalmi Brachot 28a states that it is permitted to carry a bag of Sefarim behind you. However, the Rosh 3:7 implies that this Yerushalmi is not be accepted according to the Rif. The Tur 282:3 cites a dispute if there's no danger whether it is permitted to carry a Sefer Torah behind one's back. | ||
* Is the Sefer Torah treated like a Sefer? Tosfot and Rosh suggest that they are different. Rabbenu Yerucham (cited by Bet Yosef 282:3) argues that Sefarim and Sefer Torah are the same for this halacha. Bach 282:3 is strict for both the Rif and the Rabbenu Yerucham. Therefore, he holds that it is forbidden to carry a sefer behind one's back. Shach 282:5 cites the Bach. Avnei Yishpeh YD 205 accepts the Shach and discusses carrying a sefer or tefillin on a ledge in the back of a bike and concludes that it should be forbidden, however, one gadol was lenient if the ledge isn't on the same level as the bike. The Avnei Yishpeh would have been lenient | * Is the Sefer Torah treated like a Sefer? Tosfot and Rosh suggest that they are different. Rabbenu Yerucham (cited by Bet Yosef 282:3) argues that Sefarim and Sefer Torah are the same for this halacha. Bach 282:3 is strict for both the Rif and the Rabbenu Yerucham. Therefore, he holds that it is forbidden to carry a sefer behind one's back. Shach 282:5 cites the Bach. Avnei Yishpeh YD 205 accepts the Shach and discusses carrying a sefer or tefillin on a ledge in the back of a bike and concludes that it should be forbidden, however, one gadol was lenient if the ledge isn't on the same level as the bike. The Avnei Yishpeh would have been lenient with holding sefarim in a box. see Biur Halacha 43:6 s.v. umeyniachan.</ref> Some poskim permit.<ref>Megilat Sefer Inyanim Shonim YD p. 143 writes that the minhag is that people carry sefarim in backpacks. He explains that either we aren't following the Bach or that our printed sefarim don't have the same kedusha as a handwritten sefer.</ref> | ||
# Some poskim even say that it is forbidden to hold sefarim in a bag hanging from one's hand in a regular fashion. Instead one must hold it in one's lap.<ref>Gam Ani Odecha Teshuvot Gri Roth 3. He explains that the idea of Brachot 18a that forbid putting a sefer torah on a donkey one is riding whether that is because it is disrespectful or because it is necessary to specifically hold it in one's lap. He shows from the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch that specifically one must hold it in one's lap.</ref> | |||
# It is permitted to transport seferim in a bag that is placed under the airplane.<ref>Torat Haderech 3:9 p. 34</ref> | # It is permitted to transport seferim in a bag that is placed under the airplane.<ref>Torat Haderech 3:9 p. 34</ref> | ||
