Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Musar for Eruvin 195:17

חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני במה דברים אמורים בכותל משופע אבל

seeing that it was taught: The writers of the scrolls of Scripture, tefillin or mezuzoth were not permitted to turn a skin<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'curtain',one of the sheets of parchment of which the large scroll is made up.');"><sup>45</sup></span> with the writing downwards,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'on its face'; to protect it from dust.');"><sup>46</sup></span> but a cloth must be spread over it?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sof. Ill, 14 and 16.');"><sup>47</sup></span> There<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the scribe's house.');"><sup>48</sup></span> this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To cover the writing with a cloth.');"><sup>49</sup></span> is possible whereas here<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the open, and where the exposed part of the scroll is rather large.');"><sup>50</sup></span> this is impossible; and if one were not to turn it over the holy writings would be exposed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit 'there is'.');"><sup>51</sup></span> to much greater abuse. HE MUST TURN IT OVER WITH ITS WRITING DOWNWARDS. But, surely, it has not, has it, come to a rest?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the public domain. Why then should it be forbidden to roll it back into the private domain seeing that such an act would not infringe even a shebuth?');"><sup>52</sup></span> - Raba replied: This is a case where the wall was slanting.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that the end of the scroll inevitably comes to rest on the slope.');"><sup>53</sup></span> Said Abaye to him: You have explained our Mishnah as referring<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'in what did you place our Mishnah?'');"><sup>54</sup></span> to a slanting wall; read them the final clause: R'JUDAH RULED, EVEN IF IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE GROUND BY NO MORE THAN A THREAD'S THICKNESS, HE MAY ROLL IT BACK TO HIMSElf, but, surely,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the wall was slanting.');"><sup>55</sup></span> I may ask, has it not come to rest?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It must have done. Why, then, did R. Judah permit it to be rolled back?');"><sup>56</sup></span> - Some words are wanting, the proper reading<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In our MISHNAH:');"><sup>57</sup></span> being as follows: This<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The ruling that HE MUST TURN IT etc.');"><sup>58</sup></span> applies only to a slanting wall, but in the case

Mesilat Yesharim

It was also forbidden to sit on a bed which a Torah scroll lies upon (Moed Katan 25a). Likewise, they said: "it is forbidden to throw out holy writings, even Halachot (laws) and Agadot" (Eruvin 98a, Rambam Hilchot Sefer Torah ch.10). Likewise, they forbade putting books of the Prophets and Writings on top of the Five Books of Moses (Megilah 27a). These are things that our sages, of blessed memory, forbade on the entire congregation of Israel. But the Chasid should learn from them and add on them in various ways for the honor of the Name of the L-rd, his G-d.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Previous VerseFull Chapter