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Are u allowed to touch the inside of a torah scroll with your fingers?
If you can touch it with a tallis intervening, do so.
If you can’t, then touch it with your fingers.
If you don’t need to touch it, don’t.
I don’t think so. Look at the last amud of megillah what it says about someone who does (if i remember correctly that’s what it’s talking about). Never depend on the CR for a psak, but we’re good for the hock.
No
Who says you’re allowed to touch the outside?
Even for someone reading from it its assur.
Orach chaim siman #127. Look at the mishnah berurah.
If you don’t need to touch it, don’t.
Outside or inside, as per Rabbi Sam.
If you need to touch it to straighten it out, or some other necessary purpose, and no chotzetz is available, then do it.
Source?
Lior: Shabbos 15b, give or take.
From DailyHalacha .com
The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (14) cites a Halacha in the name of Rabbi Parnach forbidding touching the parchment of a Torah scroll barehanded. One who must touch the scroll must do so indirectly, while holding some material in his hand, such as a cloth or Tallit. The Gemara warns that a person who touches the scroll barehanded forfeits the Misva in which he is involved, Heaven forbid. Thus, for example, if a Sofer (scribe) is writing a Sefer Torah, or if somebody studies from the scroll, lifts it to show it to the congregation, or rolls it, he forfeits the merit of the Misva if he directly touches the scroll while performing that Misva.
Summary: It is forbidden to directly touch the parchment of a Sefer Torah; one who must touch the scroll should make sure to do so indirectly, while holding a cloth or his Tallit. This applies even if one washed Netilat Yadayim. However, one may directly touch a Megilat Ester after performing Netilat Yadayim without a Beracha.
See:Siman 147
The M’B (1): if there is a need one can for example if one needs to sew a sefer Torah but one should wash their hands (ie ritually); however, without a need, one should not touch at all.
It seems the coffee room got it right 🙂
DQB
links removed
Rema: Without question that is Assur and a possible additional Issur of Lo Sa’asun Kein.
Rema, I’m not familiar with the exact Halachos involved, at all. But as far as being mechanech little kids, they’ll gain a lot more by being told that they’re not allowed to touch. And even Morah or Rebbe are not allowed to touch! By all means, if you have the opportunity, let them visit a Sofer and look at his quill and parchment. But teaching them respect and awe for Tashmishei Kedushah will accomplish more than allowing them the tactile sensation you’re inquiring about. Infants and very young children learn a lot from sensory input, including touching things. But a child old enough to be introduced to a Sefer Torah is old enough to hear what you have to say and be impressed with the information.
Let them touch the Sefer when it is covered with its outer covering. Then explain when the Sefer is OPEN, no one may touch it, not even the rebbie, because it is very holy. Then give them a child’s ST, open it up and let them touch the inside of THAT, but explain that it is also holy, so they have to treat it with respect, as they would a chumash.
old man – Welcome back!
Rema711 -“an orthodox teacher”
He’s Not Orthodox! He doesn’t keep Halacha.
“when an orthodox Jew heard what he did he tried balling him out,”
Not the way to give Mussar.
“but the conservative rabbi claimed he did nothing wrong,”
He’s right! He’s a Tinnuk Shenishba.
The prob you have is that you don’t know whose Really Frum & who isn’t!
Health:
Rema711 -“an orthodox teacher”
He’s Not Orthodox! He [sic] doesn’t keep Halacha.
have you ever made a mistake in halacha in your life? i think so. does that make you non-orthodox? i think not.
The prob you have is that you don’t know whose Really Frum & who isn’t!
what are you trying to say? that the conservative rabbi is frum?
even if he is a Tinnuk Shenishba, hes still not frum.
or are you trying to say that the orthodox jew who tried balling him out isnt frum? not knowing how to give mussar dosnt make one non-frum.
or are you tring to say that the teacher isnt frum? see above.
Rema711 -“the orthodox teacher is orthodox, she is a Judaic teacher there, she had to help hold up the torah to let the kids touch it (FYI she did use plastic latex gloves when she was holding up the torah) because if she didn’t the school would have fired her, the school already doesn’t like because she is orthodox and will try to fire her for any small thing she does not do that they ask her to do, they already wanted to fired her cause she had a neck surgery and had to have a very long leave of absences, so if she didn’t do this it would have been the last straw”
I’m not a Poisik, but it sounds like a Bezoin Hatorah, even if she wears gloves. You can’t do Aveirahs, even if you’ll be fired!
It is important for Orthodox teachers in Non-Orthodox schools to realize they often have the upper hand. The Non-Orthodox schools of higher education are not producing enough early childhood Judaic studies teachers and they need Orthodox teachers to make up the shortfall.
And any teacher that accepts such a position should have a Posek on speed-dial.
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