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154 [1] **Laws of Articles of Holiness and Synagogue Lights. Containing 15 Se'ifim:**
[Regarding] a town square, even though they pray there on fast days - it has no holiness, because [the praying] is occasional; and likewise houses and courtyards in which people gather and pray sometimes (meaning by happenstance and chance, but not in a set way), they do not have any holiness. Rem"a: And some say that it is only called a holy ark if it is like a type of box that is only made for the honor of the Torah. But an ark that is built into a wall made for storage is not called an article of holiness - and all the more so, if the scrolls deteriorate in it, it is permissible to take it from there (Mordechi and Hagahot Ashiri in Perek B'nei Ha'ir). [2] A house that people rent and pray in it does not have the status of a synagogue. [3] Articles of holiness - such as the container of a Torah scroll, mezuzot, tefillin straps, a box into which they put a Torah scroll or a single book of the Torah, a chair upon which they put a Torah scroll or a curtain that they hang in front of the ark - have holiness and need to be buried (when discarded). Ram"a: And this [refers to] specifically the thing into which they sometimes put the holy object itself; or something made for [its] honor, such as the cover on top of the boards [containing] the scrolls. But the cover that is to protect the cover that is over the boards is not called an article of holiness, as it is an article of an article; and likewise, anything that is similar to it. It is forbidden to wash the cover of a Torah scroll in urine, on account of [its] honor (Rabbenu Yerucham 2:7; Ran and Mordechi in the first chapter of Moed Katan). [4] [Regarding] worn covers of a Torah scroll - we may make them into shrouds for a dead person, and that is [considered] their [proper] burial. [5] [Regarding] a Torah scroll that became worn out - we place into an earthenware vessel and bury it in the grave of a Torah scholar; even one who only studies the laws and has not served under [higher level] Torah scholars. [6] We may not make a chair for a Torah scroll from an ark; but it is permissible to make a small ark from a big ark. And it is likewise permissible to make a small chair from a big chair; but it is forbidden to make a stool (meaning, a small seat) as a chair from it. And it is likewise permissible to make a small curtain from a big curtain, or to make a cover/pouch for the Torah scroll from it; but it is forbidden to make a cover/pouch for a scroll of a single book of the Torah from it. Ram"a: And the *parochet* (curtain) that we hang in front of the ark does not have the holiness of the ark, [but rather] just the holiness of a synagogue; and likewise the poles upon which we hang the *parokhet*. Nevertheless, it is forbidden to make the wooden markers that point to the daily obligated reading from it - as it is not of the same [level] of holiness as them [but lower] (Piskei Maharai - siman 225) [7] The *bimah* (meaning the elevated place) - such as the *bimah* they would make for a king - does not have the holiness of an ark, but rather the holiness of a synagogue. [8] A stipulation to use the ark and everything that we make for a Torah scroll is effective for other uses, and even for the mundane. Ram"a: And we are accustomed to benefit in several ways from holy objects, such as [from] covers for scrolls, the table in the synagogue and the mantles of the Torah scrolls. And they wrote that the reason is on account of since it is what they are accustomed to doing and it is impossible to be careful, [it is considered like] the court made a stipulation on them from the beginning - so that people not come to a mishap [by violating the laws]. And even though they did not stipulate, it is as if they stipulated (Terumat HaDeshen - siman 373 and Beit Yosef). [9] [Regarding] those who donate a Torah scroll and leave coverings [for it] in the synagogue - it is permissible to use them for any [Torah] scroll, for it is with this intention that they sanctified them. But if they kept them (ie. the Torah scroll and the covering) at their home and sanctified [them] afterwards - since it was made with that particular scroll in mind and it was used with that scroll, it is forbidden to place it on another Torah scroll. But there are those that permit it. (And such is the practice today, since [it is considered like] the court made a stipulation about it, to permit it.) [10] [Regarding] those whose custom is to place the crowns of the Torah scroll on the head of the reader at the culmination of the Torah - we do not protest against it. But those who place them on the heads of bridegrooms - we do protest against that. [11] [Regarding] wax candles that idolaters gave to idolatry and their attendant extinguished them and gave them or sold them to a Jew - it is forbidden to light them in the synagogue. Ram"a: Even though they are permitted for everyday use (and see Yoreh Deah 239 about these laws) [Regarding] an apostate to idolatry that gave wax or a candle to the synagogue - it is forbidden to light it (Piskei Mahariv 64, and see Yoreh Deah 254). [12] [In the case of] a mouse that was found in the oil of the synagogue - if [the oil became] disgusting, it is forbidden to light it in the synagogue. [13] It is permissible to read by the light of a synagogue candle. [14] We may not light an everyday candle from a synagogue candle. But there is one who says that this is [only] applicable when they are lit for a mitzvah; but when he needs to extinguish it, it is permissible. Ram"a: However [we] are not accustomed to be careful about this, and do light a candle from them for a great need. And it is possible that the court stipulated about this also. And likewise with all of the things that the practice is to be lenient about things like these, it is perhaps from this reason (Piskei Mahara"i - siman 225). [15] Residents of a city that bought a Torah scroll and stipulated that if one of them leaves from the city, the others would give him his share [of the money], but then the scrolls appreciated (in value) - if one of them leaves, they only give him what he gave alone.
Version: Sefaria Community Translation
Source: https://www.sefaria.org
License: CC0