Respecting a Sefer Torah: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Building an Aron
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# There is a mitzvah to designate a place for the Sefer Torah.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 282:1</ref> | # There is a mitzvah to designate a place for the Sefer Torah.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 282:1</ref> | ||
===Building an Aron=== | ===Building an Aron=== | ||
# | #There is a mitzvah to house a Sefer Torah in an Aron Kodesh as we learn from the way the Luchot were stored and not simply wrap it in a Tallit.<ref>Rambam Tefillin Mezuzah Vsefer Torah 10:10, Raah Brachot 23a</ref> | ||
# An Aron Kodesh should be built with something new or designated for that purpose. Something that was once used for any personal use shouldn't be used for an Aron Kodesh.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 153:21 writes that something that was once used for a personal or mundane use may not be used for a kodesh use. Baruch Shnatan Torah p. 376 gives that Aron Kodesh or Bimah as an example. Halacha Brurah 153:66 codifies the ruling of Shulchan Aruch for all tashmishei kedusha.</ref> | # An Aron Kodesh should be built with something new or designated for that purpose. Something that was once used for any personal use shouldn't be used for an Aron Kodesh.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 153:21 writes that something that was once used for a personal or mundane use may not be used for a kodesh use. Baruch Shnatan Torah p. 376 gives that Aron Kodesh or Bimah as an example. Halacha Brurah 153:66 codifies the ruling of Shulchan Aruch for all tashmishei kedusha.</ref> | ||
# After the fact if something that was once used for another purpose was used as the Aron Kodesh it can continue to be used.<ref>Taz Y.D. 282:13, Eliya Rabba 147:4, Mishna Brurah 147:12, Halacha Brurah 153:68</ref> It can't be downgraded in its kedusha<ref>Mishna Brurah 147:12, Halacha Brurah 153:68</ref> and would require gezina if it isn't used.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 154:6. See [[Burying_Religious_Articles#Aron_Kodesh]] for more sources.</ref> | # After the fact if something that was once used for another purpose was used as the Aron Kodesh it can continue to be used.<ref>Taz Y.D. 282:13, Eliya Rabba 147:4, Mishna Brurah 147:12, Halacha Brurah 153:68</ref> It can't be downgraded in its kedusha<ref>Mishna Brurah 147:12, Halacha Brurah 153:68</ref> and would require gezina if it isn't used.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 154:6. See [[Burying_Religious_Articles#Aron_Kodesh]] for more sources.</ref> | ||
# If one changed the form of the materials then it is permitted to use them for an Aron.<ref>Olat Tamid 153:44, Eliya Rabba 147:4, Magen Avraham 147:5, Mishna Brurah 147:13, Yabia Omer OC 3:13, Halacha Brurah 153:67</ref> | # If one changed the form of the materials then it is permitted to use them for an Aron.<ref>Olat Tamid 153:44, Eliya Rabba 147:4, Magen Avraham 147:5, Mishna Brurah 147:13, Yabia Omer OC 3:13, Halacha Brurah 153:67</ref> | ||
# It was just designated for a personal use and was never actually used it can be used for an Aron.<ref>Mishna Brurah 147:14, Halacha Brurah 153:67</ref> | # It was just designated for a personal use and was never actually used it can be used for an Aron.<ref>Mishna Brurah 147:14, Halacha Brurah 153:67</ref> | ||
===Storing a Sefer Torah at Home=== | |||
#When storing a Sefer Torah in a Shul, certain standards are expected and easily kept. Although it is generally more difficult to properly store a Sefer Torah in one's home, it can be done and it is considered no less dignified than if it is stored in a shul.<ref>Chelkat Yakov YD 165</ref> It is nice to place the Sefer Torah in an Aron next to the area where other printed sefarim are kept in the house.<ref>Chelkat Yakov YD 165</ref> | |||
#When storing a Sefer Torah at home, it isn't sufficient to leave the Sefer Torah on a table wrapped in a Tallit. It should be stored in a cabinet with nothing else inside. It doesn't need to be placed in an Aron Kodesh unless that is available. When placing the Torah in the cabinet one should stipulate that it is only to store the Torah temporarily and going to be used for mundane uses afterwards.<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 135:25. He references Pri Megadim E"A 135:22, Kaf Hachaim 135:83, and Vayivarech Dovid 26</ref> | |||
===Hanging a Parochet=== | ===Hanging a Parochet=== | ||
