Rav Dovid Lau, the chief rabbi of the city of Modi’in has ruled the community present when a sefer torah fell is compelled to fast.

The event occurred during Simchas Torah hakofos, when a 12-year-old was carrying a torah in the Zachor L’Avraham Shul. The kehillah brought the matter to the attention of Rav Lau, who ruled the male congregants must fast on Thursday.

Rav Lau ruled that since the youth was over 10-years-old, it cannot be chalked up to negligence or an “o’nes” but a call to the mispalalim to strengthen their ways in Avodas Hashem and sanctity of a Beit Knesset.

The rav’s p’sak stated the tens of congregants present when the torah fell should fast from the morning until after three stars, recite slichos in shul in the morning and make a concerted effort to improve concentration and behavior in shul.

Rav Lau stressed that halachicly speaking, it is not the child’s fault but the congregation must fast nonetheless.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)