Respecting a Sefer Torah: Difference between revisions
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Everyone is obligated to honor a Sefer Torah. One should be in a state of seriousness and awe in front of the Sefer Torah as it serves as a testament to the world of Judaism. <Ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 282:1</ref> Regarding Sefarim see the [[Respecting Holy Books]] page. | [[Image:Sefer_Torah_Hagbaa2.jpg|250px|right]] | ||
Everyone is obligated to honor a Sefer Torah. One should be in a state of seriousness and awe in front of the Sefer Torah as it serves as a testament to the world of Judaism.<Ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 282:1</ref> Regarding Sefarim see the [[Respecting Holy Books]] page. | |||
==Placement and Storage== | ==Placement and Storage== | ||
===Designating a Place=== | ===Designating a Place=== | ||
# 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> | ||
===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> | |||
===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, Tur YD 282, Gra YD 282:1. See also Raah Brachot 23a.</ref> | #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, Tur YD 282, Gra YD 282:1. See also Raah Brachot 23a.</ref> | ||
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# 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> | ||
===Hanging a Parochet=== | ===Hanging a Parochet=== | ||
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===Gartel=== | ===Gartel=== | ||
# There is a minhag by some communities to take the gartel from the Sefer Torah for a pregnant woman as a segulah that she not have a miscarriage. Some defend this minhag and others question it.<ref>Meir Oz v. 5 p. 799</ref> | # There is a minhag by some communities to take the gartel from the Sefer Torah for a pregnant woman as a segulah that she not have a miscarriage. Some defend this minhag and others question it.<ref>Meir Oz v. 5 p. 799</ref> | ||
=== | ===Meil on Sefer Torah=== | ||
#The meil, the garment around the Sefer Torah, should be decorated to beuatify the Sefer Torah. If one side is nicer than the other, some say that the nicer side should face the Sefer Torah, while others say the opposite. The minhag is that it faces the outside. Ideally it should be made equally as nice on both sides.<ref>Biur Hagra OC 147:6 writes that there is no reason to make the garment nice on the inside as opposed to the outside since no one sees the inside. His proof is the Mishna Middot 4 that states that they didn't plate the area behind the area since they weren't exposed. Rama 147:1, however, quotes the Mordechai as saying that the nicer side should face the Sefer Torah yet the minag isn't so. Magen Avraham 147:4 questions the Mordechai but upholds it as the halacha. Eliya Rabba 147:3 writes that in order to satisfy both opinions they should make the garment equally nice on the inside and outside. Magen Giborim E"H 147:6 agrees. Mishna Brurah 147:10 also doesn't arbitrate between the Rama and Gra but quotes both and concludes with the Eliya Rabba's solution.</ref> | |||
# They shouldn't switch the inner side with the outer side of the meil.<ref>Magen Giborim E"H 147:6 citing the Aguda</ref> | |||
#One shouldn't use a garment that was used for a personal use for the protective covering on a Sefer Torah. It is permitted to use a kittel for Yom Kippur davening for wrapping a sefer torah.<ref>Shaar Hatziyun 147:22</ref> | #One shouldn't use a garment that was used for a personal use for the protective covering on a Sefer Torah. It is permitted to use a kittel for Yom Kippur davening for wrapping a sefer torah.<ref>Shaar Hatziyun 147:22</ref> | ||
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==Transporting a Sefer Torah== | ==Transporting a Sefer Torah== | ||
===When is it Permitted to Transport a Sefer Torah=== | ===When is it Permitted to Transport a Sefer Torah=== | ||
#Generally, a Sefer Torah should not be transported for people who can't come to shul since it is considered disrespectful to bring a Sefer Torah to people when the opposite should take place. Therefore, many poskim hold that even if Jews are stuck in jail it is forbidden to bring them a sefer Torah.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 135:14, Mishna Brurah 135:47</ref> Some are lenient if the Jews are unable to come to shul since it isn't a disrepect to the Sefer Torah in that case. For a | #Generally, a Sefer Torah should not be transported for people who can't come to shul since it is considered disrespectful to bring a Sefer Torah to people when the opposite should take place. Therefore, many poskim hold that even if Jews are stuck in jail it is forbidden to bring them a sefer Torah.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 135:14, Mishna Brurah 135:47</ref> Some are lenient if the Jews are unable to come to shul since it isn't a disrepect to the Sefer Torah in that case. For a biblical Kriyat Hatorah such as Parshat Zachor we would be lenient.<ref>Mishna Brurah 135:46</ref> Additionally, if there is a minyan of Jews stuck who can't come to the shul it is permissible to bring them a Sefer Torah and it is only prohibited to bring the Sefer Torah for an individual who is stuck.<ref>Mishna Brurah 135:47</ref> | ||
#Nonetheless, the practice is to be lenient as long as one transports the Sefer Torah a day or two in advance of the Kriyat Hatorah.<ref>Rama 135:14</ref> It is also acceptable to bring the Sefer Torah if one makes it a place where it can be properly stored for one or two days after bringing it for a Kriyat Hatorah.<ref>Magen Avraham 135:22, Mishna Brurah 135:49. Piskei Hateshuvot Binyanei Bet Hakeneset Vsefer Torah 10:4 citing Maharitz 11 who explains that it is permitted even if it is brought that day as long as it is will have a respectful place for storage.</ref> Meaning, it shouldn't be brought for a temporary use and returned; it should be brought and placed in a respectful storage, used, held for a few days, and returned.<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 135:25</ref> | #Nonetheless, the practice is to be lenient as long as one transports the Sefer Torah a day or two in advance of the Kriyat Hatorah.<ref>Rama 135:14</ref> It is also acceptable to bring the Sefer Torah if one makes it a place where it can be properly stored for one or two days after bringing it for a Kriyat Hatorah.<ref>Magen Avraham 135:22, Mishna Brurah 135:49. Piskei Hateshuvot Binyanei Bet Hakeneset Vsefer Torah 10:4 citing Maharitz 11 who explains that it is permitted even if it is brought that day as long as it is will have a respectful place for storage.</ref> Meaning, it shouldn't be brought for a temporary use and returned; it should be brought and placed in a respectful storage, used, held for a few days, and returned.<ref>Piskei Teshuvot 135:25</ref> | ||
# Some have the minhag only to bring a Sefer Torah to a new place if they're going to read from it three times and not just to read it once.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 135:32. Piskei Teshuvot 135:25 adds that even though this practice has no source one should observe it.</ref> | # Some have the minhag only to bring a Sefer Torah to a new place if they're going to read from it three times and not just to read it once.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 135:32. Piskei Teshuvot 135:25 adds that even though this practice has no source one should observe it.</ref> | ||
