I don’t need to tell you that life can be an ongoing mix of joy and sadness. I’m sure you have experienced this for yourself, sometimes on a daily basis.

This contrast of emotions became a reality for those of us in attendance at the Simchat Torah service on October 11. In the midst of this annual celebration, we experienced the shock of seeing one of the Torah scrolls fall to the ground.

We had davened that morning in the Cantor Klein Chapel. Since the chapel did not (at that time) contain a Torah stand, the Sefer Torah was placed in what appeared to be a reliable resting place, but it nonetheless slipped out. No one dropped the Torah, as we sometimes worry might happen, but still, the sight of the Sefer Torah on the floor was a shocking sight to see. We have since received a Torah stand for the chapel to prevent this event from recurring.

In the meantime, the question was immediately raised, “What do we do when the Torah falls to the ground?”

Though the most common answer to this question is that one who witnesses such an event is obligated to fast, I had learned from my teacher, Rabbi David Golinkin, that this is not necessarily the best response.

Rabbi Golinkin, currently the president of the Schechter Institute (affiliated with Conservative Judaism) in Israel, and a leading authority on Halakhah, explains that fasting for a fallen Sefer Torah is not mentioned until 1662, but there have been appropriate ways to atone for a fallen Torah for centuries before that.

Rabbi Golinkin’s conclusion is to follow the teaching of Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, who ruled in 1912 “that one should perform acts of atonement related to what happened. Such acts would include buying a new mantle (cover) for the Sefer Torah which fell, studying the laws of the Sefer Torah, and briefing anyone who holds the Sefer Torah or lifts it so that this sad mishap should not recur.”*

Therefore, I instructed everyone who was present at that service to make a contribution (of one’s choice) so that we can purchase a new Torah cover, possibly a new Torah stand, and other items which will bring increased honor to the Torah Scrolls at our synagogue. I invite others from our congregation and community to join in contributing to this worthwhile cause. Please indicate that your donation is specifically in response to the fallen Sefer Torah.

Be on the lookout for upcoming announcements of when we will dedicate the new Torah cover, and also hold a study session on the laws of the Sefer Torah.

^*To read Rabbi Golinkin’s complete responsum in Hebrew, click http://www.responsafortoday.com/eng_index.html, select Va'ad Ha'Halakhah - Volume 6 and click on the Hebrew for Fasting for a Sefer Torah which Fell.
^*To read it in English, click http://www.responsafortoday.com/eng_index.html, select Va'ad Ha'Halakcha - English Summaries and under Volume 6, select Fasting for a Sefer Torah which Fell.