Respecting a Sefer Torah: Difference between revisions
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==Placement and Storage== | ==Placement and Storage== | ||
# There is a mitzvah to designate a place for the Sefer Torah.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch | ===Designating a Place=== | ||
# There is a mitzvah to designate a place for the Sefer Torah.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 282:1</ref> | |||
===Sefer Torah Leaning or Standing Straight Up=== | |||
# When the Sefer Torah is placed in the aron and also when it is on the Bimah, according to Ashkenazim, it should be placed in a leaning position and not standing or lying flat.<ref>[http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=948&pgnum=32 Kenaf Rananah OC 6], Minchat Yitzchak 2:117 based on Rama YD 289:6 and Shach 289:9 regarding having a mezuzah leaning. The topic is based on a dispute between Rashi Menachot 33a s.v. pesula and Tosfot s.v. Ha.</ref> However, according to Sephardim the Sefer Torah both when it is in the Aron and when it is read on the Bimah should be standing straight up. This is the minhag of Sephardim and how the Sephardic Sefer Torah is constructed.<ref> Shulchan Aruch YD 289:6 rules that a mezuzah should be placed standing straight up. Yalkut Yosef YD 285:70 writes that this the minhag of Sephardim and the same is true for leaving a Sefer Torah in the Aron that it should be standing. Also, Yalkut Yosef 141:3 writes that when the Sefer Torah is read on the Bimah it should also be standing.</ref> | # When the Sefer Torah is placed in the aron and also when it is on the Bimah, according to Ashkenazim, it should be placed in a leaning position and not standing or lying flat.<ref>[http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=948&pgnum=32 Kenaf Rananah OC 6], Minchat Yitzchak 2:117 based on Rama YD 289:6 and Shach 289:9 regarding having a mezuzah leaning. The topic is based on a dispute between Rashi Menachot 33a s.v. pesula and Tosfot s.v. Ha.</ref> However, according to Sephardim the Sefer Torah both when it is in the Aron and when it is read on the Bimah should be standing straight up. This is the minhag of Sephardim and how the Sephardic Sefer Torah is constructed.<ref> Shulchan Aruch YD 289:6 rules that a mezuzah should be placed standing straight up. Yalkut Yosef YD 285:70 writes that this the minhag of Sephardim and the same is true for leaving a Sefer Torah in the Aron that it should be standing. Also, Yalkut Yosef 141:3 writes that when the Sefer Torah is read on the Bimah it should also be standing.</ref> | ||
# When there are multiple sifrei Torah taken out for a Kriyat Hatorah, there is what to rely on to leave the Sefer Torah leaning in a Sefer Torah holder (wooden chair-like structure) secured properly.<ref>Minchat Yitzchak 2:117</ref> | # When there are multiple sifrei Torah taken out for a Kriyat Hatorah, there is what to rely on to leave the Sefer Torah leaning in a Sefer Torah holder (wooden chair-like structure) secured properly.<ref>Minchat Yitzchak 2:117</ref> | ||
===Turning the Klaf Over=== | |||
# It is forbidden to turn over the klaf on the Sefer Torah so that it is should face down. If it is found overturned, it should be turned face up.<Ref>Rama 282:5</ref> | # It is forbidden to turn over the klaf on the Sefer Torah so that it is should face down. If it is found overturned, it should be turned face up.<Ref>Rama 282:5</ref> | ||
===Placing It On the Ground=== | |||
# It is forbidden to place a Sefer Torah on the ground.<Ref>Rama 282:7</ref> | # It is forbidden to place a Sefer Torah on the ground.<Ref>Rama 282:7</ref> | ||
===Sitting Next to the Sefer Torah=== | |||
# It is forbidden to sit on the same area where a Sefer Torah is placed.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 282:7</ref> If the Sefer Torah is raised a tefach according to the basic halacha it is permitted to sit on that same area. However, a pious practice would require the Sefer Torah to be raised 3 or 10 tefachim.<ref>Shach 282:8</ref> | # It is forbidden to sit on the same area where a Sefer Torah is placed.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 282:7</ref> If the Sefer Torah is raised a tefach according to the basic halacha it is permitted to sit on that same area. However, a pious practice would require the Sefer Torah to be raised 3 or 10 tefachim.<ref>Shach 282:8</ref> | ||
===Resting Elbows Upon Sefer Torah=== | |||
# A person shouldn't put a Sefer Torah on his lap and rest his elbows on it.<Ref>Rama YD 282:7</ref> | # A person shouldn't put a Sefer Torah on his lap and rest his elbows on it.<Ref>Rama YD 282:7</ref> | ||
===Sefarim on a Sefer Torah=== | |||
# It is forbidden to place a Neviim or Ketuvim on top of a Sefer Torah. Moreover a chumash may not be placed on top of a Sefer Torah<ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 282:19</ref>. However, Neviim can be placed on top of Ketuvim or vice versa.<Ref>Rama YD 282:19</ref> | # It is forbidden to place a Neviim or Ketuvim on top of a Sefer Torah. Moreover a chumash may not be placed on top of a Sefer Torah<ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 282:19</ref>. However, Neviim can be placed on top of Ketuvim or vice versa.<Ref>Rama YD 282:19</ref> | ||
