The Issur

M’d’rabanan[1] one is not allowed to bring a Sefer Torah to one who is in jail even on Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur.[2] The reason is because it is a disgrace for the Sefer Torah to be moved for a person’s needs; instead one should go greet the Sefer Torah.[3] Some say thisissur does not only apply to someone in jail but even to any other incident that makes a person unable to come to shul and hear laining(i.e. he is sick).[4] The Zohar was very stringent with this halacha.[5] An exception exists in a case of an important person as will be discussed in the next paragraph.

“Important Person”

A Sefer Torah may be transported for an important person’s need.[6] The reason is because the Sefer Torah becomes elevated by being transported for an important person.[7] Many poskim say that the important person must also be a sick person.[8] However, others say transporting a Sefer Torah is permitted for an important person even if he is not sick.[9] Many are lenient and rely on the second opinion.

Some poskim say the person we are referring to has to be important and well versed in Torah.[10] Other poskim maintain an important person (in this context) is a person who is careful not to miss hearing krias hatorah.[11] Transporting a Sefer Torah for an important person has no restrictions, and there is no need for a designated place for the Sefer Torah (see below).[12]

Going with Ten people

Some poskim permit transporting a Sefer Torah from one place to the next if there are ten people who go along with the Sefer Torah.[13]Some say even the Zohar would agree that this is permitted.[14]

Tzibbur

Many poskim say the whole issur of moving a Sefer Torah only applies where the Sefer Torah is being moved for an individual, and if atzibur needs to have a Sefer Torah in order to hear laining then moving a Sefer Torah from place to place is permitted.[15] Some say the reason for the leniency for a tzibur is because they are equivalent to an important person for whom a Sefer Torah may be transported.[16]

Preparing a place for the Sefer Torah

One who wishes to bring a Sefer Torah to another location may do so if he prepares a place for the Sefer Torah to be kept,[17] such as anaron kodesh.[18] Although, some poskim require the sefer Torah to be brought a day or two before it will actually be read[19] this is not meant to be taken literally, and as long as the Sefer Torah is in an aron kodesh it is permitted.[20] The reason why preparing a place permits transporting the Sefer Torah is because it does not seem that the Sefer Torah is brought because of the reading, but instead as being transported to leave it in the new place (albeit for a short time).[21] Some say when one takes a Sefer Torah from an aron kodesh to a sick person he should make sure not to place it in a room that is above a bathroom,[22] however, the minhag is to be lenient with this.[23]

“Reading from the Sefer Torah Three Times”

Many people think one may transport a Sefer Torah from one place to another if one will read from it three times. This idea is quoted by the Aruch Ha’shulchan[24] and others[25] l’halacha. However, most poskim say this should not be relied upon for halacha l’maseh since this opinion is not found in earlier sources.[26] Although, the earlier sources say one should prepare a place for the Sefer Torah a day or two early, there is no mention of the idea of reading from it three times to permit it to be transported without any restrictions.[27] Horav Moshe Feinstein zt”l said that although there is no source for this opinion, one should not disturb people who rely on it.[28]

Room to Room

According to the writings of the Zohar one is not permitted to take a Sefer Torah to another place, even from room to room.[29] This was the custom of the G’ra as well.[30] Many poskim hold that it is permitted to take a Sefer Torah from one room to another room if both rooms are under one roof.[31] Some say it is only permitted if there is a designated place for the Sefer Torah in the second room.[32]

This has ramifications for many shuls with two minyanim very close to each other in two separate rooms. A person from one minyan may go into the main shul to get a Sefer Torah for laining since the Sefer Torah is only being moved from one room to the next under the same roof. This is permitted as mentioned above since it is from one room to the next. Furthermore, it is for a tzibur, and there is usually a small aron kodesh in the second room to place the Sefer Torah in before laining begins.[33]

Parshas Zochor

Some poskim maintain that transporting a Sefer Torah from place to place (even without placing the Sefer Torah in an aron kodesh) is permitted to enable someone to hear parshas zochor.[34] Others say it is also permitted for parshas para,[35] while others  permit it for all of the four parshas.[36]

Chosson

Some people have the custom to have a private minyan at the chosson’s house for an aufruf or Shabbos sheva berochos. The question arises if one is allowed to bring a Sefer Torah there? Many say that since one brings a Sefer Torah to greet a king,[37] and a chosson is comparable to a king,[38] bringing a Sefer Torah to him is permitted.[39] Others say doing so is permitted if the Sefer Torah will be placed in an aron kodesh in the chosson’s house.[40] Since the custom is to place the Sefer Torah in an aron kodesh, bringing a Sefer Torah to the chosson is allowed.

Bais Avel r”l

The Shulchan Aruch and Rama argue if an avel r”l goes to shul to hear laining.[41] The custom of the Ashkenazim is that an avel r”l does not leave his house for laining.[42] Many say that a Sefer Torah may be brought to the house of an avel r”l since it is being brought for a tziburwhich is permitted to do.[43] Some say if there will not be a designated place for the Sefer Torah (i.e. aron kodesh) then it should not be brought to the bais avel r”l  even if a tzibur is there.[44] Since the minhag today is to have a small aron kodesh in the bais avel r”l for the Sefer Torah bringing it is permitted.

Protection

One who is concerned that the shul is not a safe place for a Sefer Torah, may transport it to his house in order to keep it in a safer place.[45]

Private Sefer Torah

Many people have a private Sefer Torah in their house which they bring along when traveling on vacation etc. Many tzadikim also had their own Sifrei Torah which they took with them when they traveled.[46] The question arises if the aforementioned halachos apply to a private Sefer Torah which is kept at home.

L’maseh, the aforementioned halachos do not apply to a private Sefer Torah.[47] A Sefer Torah which was donated to a shul is not considered privately owned.[48]

Accordingly, one may take a private Sefer Torah into the office with him on a fast day especially since it is being brought for a tzibur of ten people to hear laining.[49]

Hotel

When one wants to rent out a hotel for Shabbos or Yom Tov bringing a Sefer Torah is permitted for the following reasons. The Sefer Torah is usually kept in an aron kodesh, and is brought for at least a minyan of people.[50]

Fixing a Sefer Torah

A Sefer Torah that needs to be fixed may be transported from place to place.[51]

Wrapping while Transporting

When a Sefer Torah is transported from place to place the custom is to wrap it in a tallis. The source for wrapping it in a tallis is unclear.[52] One should not transport it past dirty places even if it is wrapped.[53]

Kosel Hamaravi

At the Kosel Hamaravi, when a minyan davening outside needs a Sefer Torah, one person goes inside and brings it back inside immediately after laining. Some poskim say it is not in honor for the Sefer Torah for it to be brought from the inside area of the kosel to the outside, and instead the people at the minyan should go inside to the Sefer Torah.[54] Since this is usually not practical, and some poskim hold that theKosel is considered like one big shul, the custom is to be lenient.[55]

Some have the custom to daven at the “Kosel Kotton” which is located near the Kosel. Bringing a Sefer Torah to the Kosel Kotton is permitted since it is an honor for the Sefer Torah to be brought to such a holy site.[56]

Yomim Noraim

One may move a Sefer Torah on the Yomim Noraim to allow more people to receive aliyahs which will raise more money for the shul.[57]

Simchas Torah

On Simchas Torah the custom in many places is to make many laining stations so everyone can receive an aliyah in a short period of time. The question arises if moving a Sefer Torah from one place to the next is permitted. The custom is to permit this, even if the Sefer Torah is being brought to a different building since the moving is being done in the honor of the Torah.[58]

One is permitted to bring Sifrei Torah from other shuls in honor of Simchas Torah.[59] Many have the custom to bring Sifrei Torah duringhakofes to be able to go around the bimah with seven Sifrei Torah. [60]

Some shuls have the custom to bring their Sifrei Torah outside and join other shuls in singing and dancing on Simchas Torah. This is permitted because it is done out of honor for the Torah.[61] The same is true for hakofes shenias which are made in Eretz Yisroel.[62] Some say this would even be permitted according to the opinion of the Zohar mentioned above.[63]

Hachnoses Sefer Torah

The custom seems to be that when a new Sefer Torah is brought into a shul other Sifrei Torah are brought outside to greet it.[64] The reason why this is permitted is because it is an honor for the new Sefer Torah that other Sifrei Torah come out to greet it.[65] Others feel  that theSifrei Torah should not be taken out of the shul to greet the new Sefer Torah.[66]