The order of placing Sefarim on top of each other-Tanach, Siddur, Tanya

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Placing Sefarim on top of each other:[1]

It is permitted to place a Chumash on top of Nevim or Kesuvim. However one may not place a Nevim or Kesuvim on top of a Chumash, and one may not place a Chumash on top of a Sefer Torah.[2] One may place a Kesuvim over a Navi.[3] It is permitted to bind a set of Tanach in one binding in any order that one chooses.[4] [There is no order regarding Sefarim of Torah Shebal Peh such as Gemara, Mishneh and their commentaries, and they may thus be placed on top of each other.[5] Some however are stringent in this regard.[6] However, they may not be placed on top of a Chumash, Nevim or Kesuvim.[7]]

 

The status of a Siddur:

A Siddur has the same status of holiness as a Sefer.[8] Furthermore, the custom is to treat a Siddur with the same status as Nevim and Kesuvim.[9] One may not however place a Siddur on top of a Chumash.[10] If the Siddur contains Tehillim at its end [as is common by the Tehilas Hashem Siddurim], then it is questionable as to its status, and practically, one should treat it as Nevi’im, although is not to place it on top of Tanach.[11]

The status of a Tanya:

The Chabad custom is to treat a Tanya with the same respect as a Chumash and hence we do not place other Sefarim over it, including a Chumash.[12] One may not however place a Tanya on top of a Chumash.[13]

 

Placing Tefillin over or under Sefarim, and other items:

Coming up in future Halacha.

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[1] Michaber Y.D. 282:19; See Hiskashrus 709; Ginzei Hakodesh 3

[2] Michaber ibid

[3] Rama ibid

[4] Rama ibid; Ran Megillah 8b; Tosafus Baba Basra 13b “Rebbe Yehuda”

[5] Based on Rama ibid regarding Nevim and Kesuvim and the fact that there is no such law mentioned regarding the Sefarim of the oral Torah. So is also understood from M”A 25:4. See Ginzeiy Kodesh 3:29

[6] Leket Yosher Yoreh Deah p. 59 that his teacher, the Terumos Hadeshen would not place the Sefarim on top of each other; It is told that the Rebbe once removed a Sicha from on top of a Shulchan Aruch. [Yoman 28th Sivan 1967]; See Ginzei Kodesh ibid

[7] Riy Migash 92

[8] See Soles Belula 25:9; Or Tzadikim p. 10; Beis Haroeh p. 2; Machzik Bracha 25:12; Kaf Hachaim 25:101

[9] Hiskashrus ibid; Ginzei Hakodesh ibid; See Aliba Dehilchasa 24 p. 29 in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky and Rav Elyashiv that a Siddur has the status of Torah Shebal Peh, like a Gemara and in name of other Rabbanim that it has the status of Torah Shebichsav;

The reason: This is due to the great amount of verses from Tanach quoted there, as well as due to the fact that it contains the name of G-d.

[10] Rav SZ”A in Mivakshei Torah 4:19, 235:3

[11] See Rivivos Efarim 1:119 for various opinions and in conclusion that the Siddur is to be placed on the Tehillim; However, see Shevet Hakehasi 2:299 that it has the status of a Gemara even if it has Tehillim at its end

[12] See letter of Rebbe Rayatz brought in Kitzurim Veharos on Tanya p. 118; Maaseh Melech p. 7

[13] Pashut. And so is told that the Rebbe at times went out of his way to remove a Tanya from on top of a Chumash.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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