Writing a Mobile Sefer Torah for Remote Minyanim in Israel
Question
I would like to commission the writing of a Sefer Torah for the following purpose. I run an organization that sends individuals to various non-religious Jewish villages across Israel to help establish minyanim for Shabbat, Yamim Tovim, and other occasions. In many cases, these communities do not have their own Sefer Torah or do not have a kosher one, and we must arrange to bring one with our representatives. Therefore, I would like to have a Sefer Torah written specifically for this purpose, so that whenever one of our projects or emissaries travels, they will have a Sefer Torah available. However, I am concerned that this might conflict with the principle that a Sefer Torah should not be moved from its designated place, and in this case, its entire purpose would be to be transported regularly. Additionally, some individuals have shared letters from the Reebbe opposing such a practice. Could you please clarify whether this is permissible?
Answer
It is permitted for you to undertake this project and have a Sefer Torah written for this purpose. May Hashem bless you for this great mitzvah, enabling Jews scattered throughout the villages of Israel to pray with a minyan and read from the Torah.
Explanation
Your concern is valid: ideally, a Sefer Torah should remain in its designated location, as it is considered more respectful for the congregation to come to the Torah rather than for the Torah to be brought to them. This is a serious halachic principle and should be upheld whenever possible, as it is often neglected.
Nevertheless, in your case, it is unquestionably permitted for the following reasons:
- Private vs. Public Sefer Torah:
The restriction applies primarily to a public Sefer Torah. A privately owned Sefer Torah may be moved from place to place. Since this Sefer Torah will be commissioned by your organization specifically for this purpose, it is considered similar to a private Sefer Torah.
- Set Minyan Without a Sefer Torah:
The poskim agree that if there is an established minyan that lacks a Sefer Torah, it is permissible to bring one to them. The prohibition applies only when ten individuals decide to form a minyan temporarily and transport a Sefer Torah unnecessarily. In your case, the goal is to enable communities in remote areas which have a personal obligation to build a Shul and have their own Minyan, to fulfill the mitzvah of reading from the Torah.
- For the Benefit of a Community, Not an Individual
The prohibition primarily concerns bringing a Sefer Torah for the sake of an individual. When an entire minyan is unable to hear the Torah reading, it is permitted to bring a Sefer Torah on their behalf. Your project serves multiple communities and ensures they can fulfill this mitzvah properly.
- Temporary Placement for Scheduled Minyanim
Even in cases where the minyan is arranged for an individual who cannot attend a synagogue, if the Sefer Torah is brought and set up in an Aron at least one or two days in advance this is permitted. Certainly, this condition will take place in your Minyanim which will require the Torah to be brought on Erev Shabbos or Yom Tov and remain until its conclusion, hence satisfying the requirement of remaining 1-2 days. The customary practice of reading from the Sefer Torah three times when it is moved is a stringency, not a requirement from the letter of the law, and does not apply when these allowances are in place.
Regarding the letters from the Rebbe:
It is well known that one cannot deduce halacha from one case to another without knowing the exact circumstances. Since we do not have the precise details of the cases addressed in those letters, it is not practical to derive a prohibition for your situation from them.
Sources:
See regarding the general prohibition against moving a Torah scroll: Michaber 135:14; 584:3; Yerushalmi Yuma 7:1, brought in Beis Yosef 135 “In all places we say one must go to the Sefer Torah and not have the Sefer Torah come to him”; Mordechai Rosh Hashanah 710; Maharam Merothenberg 23; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 135:23-29
See regarding allowance to move a Private Sefer Torah: Yuma 70a regarding that people would bring their private Sifrei Torah from their homes to the Beis Hamikdash on Yom Kippur, and read from it to show people its beauty; Pnei Aaron 14, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 135; Chikreiy Leiv Y.D. Hashmatos 2:6; Torah Lishma O.C. 58; Darkei Chaim Veshalom 212 that so was custom of Rebbe of Munktach; Kaf Hachaim 135:82, 178, 180; Har Tzevi 71; Tzitz Eliezer 18:6; Vayivarech David 26; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 135:24
See regarding allowance to move for a Set Minyan Without a Sefer Torah: Shut Ramatz 16; Zera Emes 1:57; Eretz Tzevi 1:38 based on Rashba 115; Nishmas Avraham 135 in name of Rav SZ”A; Piskeiy Teshuvos 135:27
See regarding allowance to move for the Benefit of a Community who wont hear otherwise: Elya Raba 135:17; M”B 135:47; Biur Halacha “Ein Mavin”; See Kaf Hachaim 135:73 and 81
See regarding allowance to move If the Sefer Torah will remain in a set up Aron for a few days: Rama 135:14; Darkei Moshe 135:10; Maharam Padvah 88; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 135:25
See regarding reading three readings in the Sefer Torah: Aruch Hashulchan 135:32; Toras Chaim Sofer 135:16; Siach Yitzchak 1:77 that so was custom in Preshburg; Menuchas Moshe 16 that so is custom; Toras Yekusiel Tinyana 87; Igros Moshe 5:2-13; Pnei Baruch 10:24 that so is custom; See Poskim in Nitei Gavriel 97:2 footnote 5; See Shulchan Menachem 5:153 footnote 17 for different accounts of the Rebbe regarding Aveilus and that the Rebbe gave an option of how to circumvent the issue of the three readings; In Toras Menachem 1988 1:349 this custom of reading the Sefer Torah on three occasions is mentioned, however not with regards to Beis Havel; See Chikrei Minhagim 4:120; Yalkut Avraham 135; Shaareiy Rachamim on Shaar Ephraim 9:22; Kinyan Torah 4:18; Nitei Gavriel 97:2 that from the letter of the law it is not required; There is no source in the Poskim [earlier than the Poskim mentioned in next footnote] that require reading from the Sefer Torah on three different occasions-Shaareiy Rachamim 9:24; Halichos Shlomo 12:38 in name of Rav SZ”A
See regarding the Rebbes opinion: Shulchan Menachem 5:153
