Touching A Torah Scroll

The Daily Halacha Moment - Touching A Torah Scroll

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

May one touch a Torah Scroll?

Answer:

It is forbidden to touch the klaf (parchment) of a Sefer Torah with bare hands, even if the contact is only momentary [1]. The common custom is to touch the torah with a tallit when needed.

A sofer, however, may touch the klaf when necessary in order to repair it [2]. Some authorities maintain that one must only be careful to avoid touching the parchment while the Sefer Torah is being read or in between Aliyot [3].

This prohibition applies even if one has washed his hands beforehand [4]. According to many Rishonim, the same restriction applies to the klaf of a book of Navi or Ketuvim that was written with ink on parchment [5]. Nevertheless, the minhag is to permit touching such parchment after one has washed his hands. For instance, with a Megillat Esther, the widespread custom is to touch the klaf after handwashing [6].

Sources:

[1]. Gemara Megillah 32a; Tur and Shulchan Aruch O.C. 147:1; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 23:4; Mishna Berurah 147:1. 

[2]. Mishna Berurah 147:1.

[3]. Ben Ish Chai, Toledot 2:18. 

[4]. The Mordechai, cited by Bet Yosef 147:1, permits touching a Sefer Torah after having washed one's hands. The Rama 147:1 rules that it is forbidden to touch a sefer torah even after washing one's hands. Mishna Berurah 147:4 agrees with Rama. 

[5]. Bet Yosef 147:1 citing the Agudah, Rama 147:1 is strict. However, Birkei Yosef 147:1 citing Shev Yakov 11 is lenient. 

[6]. Rama 147:1 and Mishna Berurah 147:3.