| 28:1 |
 It is a positive command
incumbent on every Jewish man
to write a Torah scroll for himself,
as [Deuteronomy 31:19] states:
"Now, write for yourselves
this song."
Our sages, of blessed memory, received
the interpretation (of this verse as):
Write the entire Torah
which contains this song [Ha'azinu].
Even if one inherits a Torah scroll from one's father,
it is a mitzvah to write one himself.
A person who hires a scribe
to write a Torah scroll for him,
or who buys (a scroll)
which contains errors and corrects it,
is considered
as if he wrote (a Torah scroll).*
* { A person who cannot write a Torah scroll himself or afford to commission a scribe to do so may fulfill the mitzvah of writing a Torah scroll by purchasing letters in a scroll written through the contributions of many individuals.}
It is forbidden to sell a Torah scroll.
However, in a time of great need,
one should consult a Rabbinic Sage. |
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| 28:2 |
Similarly, it is a mitzvah for a person
to purchase the other sacred texts
which are used to study
- e.g., Bible text,
the mishnah,
gemorah, and the works of the halachic authorities
- so that he may study from them himself
and also lend them to others.
A person who cannot afford
to buy a Torah scroll
and also other texts for study,
then the texts he needs for study
should have priority.
Said [Kesuvos 50a about Psalms 112:3)
our Sages of blessed memory:
"His righteousness endures forever"
this (refers to a person) who writes
and also one who purchases
(sacred) texts and lends them to others. |
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| 28:3 |
A person must treat
a Torah scroll with great honor.
It is a mitzvah to designate a special place for it
and show respect for that place
and beautify it.
One should not spit in front of a Torah scroll
or hold a Torah
without its mantle.
A person who sees a Torah scroll being carried
must stand before it
until the Torah scroll is returned to its place
or until it passes out of his sight.
In the synagogue, when one removes
or returns the Torah (to the ark),
it is a mitzvah for everyone whom the Torah passes to accompany it to its place.
Similarly, the person who lifts up the Torah scroll
and the one who rolls it closed
should accompany the scroll. |
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| 28:4 |
Other sacred texts (should also be treated with respect).
If such texts have been placed on a bench, (then)
it is forbidden to sit on this bench
unless the texts are placed
on another object whose height is
at least a handbreadth.*
It is surely forbidden
to place such texts on the ground.
* {The Misgeres Hashulchon (4) quotes the Shach and the Chayei Odom, who do not require that the intervening object be a handbreadth high.}
A person should not put
a sacred text on his lap
and rest his arms upon it.
When necessary, a person may sit
on a chest
containing other sacred texts,
but not on one containing a Torah scroll.
Chumashim may be placed
on books of the Prophets and Sacred Writings.
Books of the Sacred Writings
(may be placed) on books of the Prophets
and books of the Prophets
(may be placed) on books of the Sacred Writings.
However, we may not place
books of the Prophets or of the Sacred Writings
on Chumashim. |
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| 28:5 |
A Torah scroll that has become worn
should be placed in genizah.
The same applies to other sacred texts,
writings,
and ritual articles.*
It is forbidden to burn them.
* {They should be placed in an earthenware container and buried in the grave of a Torah Sage (Shulchon Oruch, Orach Chayim 154:5).} |
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| 28:6 |
It is forbidden to throw sacred texts,
even works of halacha or aggodoh.
Similarly, it is forbidden to turn them upside down.
If one finds one upside down,
he should turn it right side up. |
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| 28:7 |
One should not urinate
in the presence of holy texts.
In an emergency,
(one should) at the very least,
see that they are raised
ten handbreadths (from the ground). *
* {Even in an emergency, a person who must defecate must cover the texts (Misgeres Hashulchon 6).}
|
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| 28:8 |
One should not make covers
or mantles for a sacred article,
from an article that was used for ordinary purposes.*
However, after the fact,
if it had already been done, it may be used.
If it was made from an article
that had been used for idol worship,
it may not be used even after it has been made.
* {The Mogen Avrohom permits using material that was previously used for mundane purposes, provided the form of the material that was previously used for mundane purposes, are fashioned. See also Mishnoh Beruroh 147:14.} |
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| 28:9 |
It is forbidden to use a holy text for one's own benefit
- e.g., to stand it up for shade in the sun,
or (as a screen for modesty)
so that his colleague does not see
what he is doing.
However, if the sun is shining too brightly
on the text which one is studying,
one may use another text for shade,
since then one is not using it for one's own benefit.
Similarly, to place a sacred text under another text
from which one is studying
to raise it, to make studying easier
is permissible.
However, it is forbidden to place one text
inside another,
so that one will not need to search
afterwards for the place one was learning.
One should not rule
a notebook on top of a sacred text
since a notebook is not sacred
until one has written in it.*
Similarly, one should not place
paper and the like within a sacred text
to be preserved.
* {However, once one has written words of Torah inside, leniency may be observed in times of need (Mishnoh Beruroh 154:31).} |
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| 28:10 |
A person who destroys sacred texts
transgresses a Torah prohibition,
[Deut. 12:4] "Do not do so to G-d, your Lord."
Those who bind books should be rebuked,
because they often place, in the covers of books,
pages from sacred texts.
Also care should be taken
when giving old holy texts
to a gentile binder to rebind.
One should remove the old covers
and hide them,
so the binder does not use them for secular books. |
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| 28:11 |
One should not purchase Torah scrolls,
tefillin, and mezuzos from a gentile
for more than their worth,
lest this encourage them to steal them.
However at their proper value,
we are obligated to purchase them
(even if afterwards they must be entombed).
If the gentile demands an exorbitant price,
he should bargain with him
and try to convince him
to sell them at their proper price.
If he remains firm,
he should be allowed to keep them.
We should not request the gentile
to sell them at a very low price,
for that might anger him
and (provoke him) to throw them away
to a place where they will be destroyed. |
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| 28:12 |
If a Torah scroll falls from one's hand,
even while covered with its mantle,
one should fast.
It is customary
that also those who see this, fast. |
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| 28:13 |
It is forbidden to write a verse (from the Bible)
without first ruling (the parchment).
Some opinions forbid writing
secular matters using the Ashuri script,
with which Torah scrolls are written. |
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