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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION

Siman קמ״ז · Rolling the séfer Torah

דיני גלילת ספר תורה — the laws of guelila: one does not hold a séfer Torah bare (בלא מטפחת); the greatest of the readers rolls it (גולל) and one cherishes the mitzva; one stops it facing the seam (כנגד התפר); one lifts (מגביה) and another rolls (גולל); and the order to keep with two séfarim
סימן קמ״ז · ח׳ סעיפים
דיני גלילת ספר תורה
🌱 Introductory level · Beginners
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This siman teaches the laws of rolling (גלילה) the séfer Torah: one does not grasp it bare (בלא מטפחת); the greatest of those who read rolls it (גולל), and one cherishes the mitzva; one stops it facing the seam (כנגד התפר) so any tear follow the seam; the custom is that one lifts (מגביה) and another rolls (גולל); and the order to keep when there are two séfarim. Hebrew text, fluent English translation and explanation of the ח׳ seifim, with a section of practical cases.

Topic: Rolling the séfer Torah — אחיזה בלא מטפחת, גולל, כנגד התפר, שני ספרי תורה
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן קמ״ז · ח׳ סעיפים

Compiled by: רב יוסף חיים סממה
DAAT · daattorah.com

Our Sages taught (מגילה ל״ב.): הגולל ספר תורה — נוטל שכר כנגד כולם — the one who rolls the séfer Torah after the reading receives a reward equal to that of the whole assembly. Hence the cherishing of this mitzva. The siman gathers the laws of the guelila: how to hold the séfer, how to roll it, and the order to keep. We study here at the level of principle; for personal conduct, one refers to the custom and to the ruling of the Rav.

📑 Study outline

A. The ח׳ seifim — אחיזה בלא מטפחת (séif 1), קניית המעילין (séif 2), כנגד התפר (séif 3), מבחוץ ומבפנים ומגביה וגולל (séif 4), כריכת המטפחת (séif 5), בתוך התיק (séif 6), המפטיר (séif 7), שני ספרי תורה (séif 8)
1. Practical case — holding the séfer: always by the cloth (מטפחת)
2. Practical case — rolling: the seam, מבחוץ/מבפנים, מגביה/גולל
3. Practical case — two séfarim: the right order (שני ספרי תורה)
+ Comprehension questions and going further

A. Rolling the séfer Torah — the ח׳ seifim

גְּלִילַת סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה — rolling the séfer Torah — after the public reading one closes the séfer (guelila) and dresses it in its cloth (מטפחת) and mantle (מעיל). This whole siman flows from a single principle: the honour of the séfer (כבוד הספר). Hence the ban on holding it bare, the cherished mitzva of the גולל, the care of the seam, the manner of rolling, and the order to keep when there are two séfarim.

Séif 1 — אחיזה בלא מטפחת: not holding the séfer bare; the גולל

אסור לאחוז ספר תורה ערום בלא מטפחת. גדול שבאותם שקראו בתורה — גולל, ורגילין לקנותו בדמים יקרים לחבב המצוה.
Séif 1: it is forbidden to grasp a séfer Torah bare, without a cloth (בלא מטפחת). The greatest of those who read in the Torah rolls it (גולל), and one customarily acquires this at a high price to cherish the mitzva (לחבב המצוה).
One never touches the parchment with bare hands: one grasps it by the cloth (מטפחת), out of honour for the séfer. The Rama adds that the same applies (הוא הדין) to the other sacred writings — though the custom is not so strict — and that it is good to be scrupulous if one has not washed one's hands. The guelila goes to the greatest of the readers, for הגולל נוטל שכר כנגד כולם; one acquires it dearly לחבב המצוה.

Séif 2 — קניית המעילין: buying the rolling, not the mantles

יכול מי שירצה לקנות להושיט המעילין להגולל, ואין הגולל יכול למחות בו, כי אף על פי שקנה הגלילה — לא קנה ליקח המעילים.
Séif 2: one who wishes may acquire the handing of the mantles (מעילין) to the roller, and the roller may not object; for although he acquired the rolling, he did not thereby acquire taking the mantles himself.
The rolling and the honour of dressing the séfer in its mantles are two distinct mitzvot. One who bought the rolling did not thereby buy handling the מעילים: another may therefore acquire handing them over, and the גולל cannot prevent it. Each mitzva has its own buyer.

Séif 3 — כנגד התפר: stopping the séfer at the seam

הגולל ספר תורה יעמידנו כנגד התפר, כדי שאם יקרע — יקרע התפר.
Séif 3: the one who rolls the séfer sets it facing the seam (כנגד התפר), so that, if it tears, it be the seam that tears.
The sheets of the séfer are sewn to one another. When finishing the guelila, one sets the join at the middle, at the seam. Thus, if the tension causes a tear, it is the seam (easily re-sewn) that gives way, and not the parchment itself — which would render the séfer pasul.

Séif 4 — מבחוץ ומבפנים: how one rolls; מגביה and גולל

הגולל ספר תורה גוללו מבחוץ, וכשהוא מהדקו — מהדקו מבפנים. ונוהגים שאחד מגביה ואחד גולל, ויהיה הכתב נגד המגביה.
Séif 4: the one who rolls the séfer rolls it from the outside, and when he tightens it, he tightens it from the inside. And it is the custom that one lifts (מגביה) and another rolls (גולל), the writing being turned toward the one who lifts.
One rolls from the outside and ties the cloth on the inside, so that at the next reading the knot is already on the right side and one need not turn the séfer over. Today two people do this: מגביה lifts the open séfer, גולל rolls it; the writing faces the מגביה, for he — holding and displaying the séfer — is the essence (עיקר) of the act.

Séif 5 — כריכת המטפחת: winding the cloth around the séfer

מוטב תיגלל המטפחת סביב הספר תורה, ולא יגלול הספר תורה כשכורכו במטפחת.
Séif 5: better that the cloth (מטפחת) be wound around the séfer Torah than that the séfer itself be turned when one wraps it in the cloth.
When wrapping the already-closed séfer, one winds the cloth around the séfer, not the reverse. Turning the séfer itself to dress it would mean handling it needlessly — a slight to its honour and a risk of creasing it. Rather one leaves the séfer in place, and the cloth wraps it.

Séif 6 — בתוך התיק: not rolling inside the case

הגולל ספר תורה בתוך התיק — טועה.
Séif 6: one who rolls the séfer Torah while it is inside its case (בתוך התיק) — errs.
This seif chiefly concerns the séfarim of the Sephardic / Eastern communities, standing in a rigid case (תיק). One does not roll the séfer while it is still inside its case: this is an error, for one cannot then roll it with the required care (the seam, the proper tightening). Rather one rolls it open, then closes the case.

Séif 7 — המפטיר: the maftir awaits the end of the guelila

אין המפטיר מתחיל עד שיגמרו לגלול הספר תורה, כדי שלא יהא הגולל טרוד ויוכל לשמוע ההפטרה.
Séif 7: the maftir does not begin until the séfer Torah has been fully rolled, so that the roller (גולל) not be busied and may hear the haftara.
The maftir waits until the guelila is finished, then begins the haftara. Why? So that the one occupied with rolling not be busied (טרוד) and may himself hear the reading of the prophet. It is the care that each participate fully.

Séif 8 — שני ספרי תורה: the order with two séfarim

ביום שיש שני ספרי תורה — לא יפתחו השנייה ולא יסירו המפה עד שיגללו הראשונה. ואין מסלקין הראשונה עד שכבר הניחו השנייה על השולחן, ומוציאין שני הספרים כאחת.
Séif 8: on a day with two séfarim Torah, one does not open the second nor remove its cloth (מפה) before the first has been rolled. And one does not set aside the first before the second has already been placed on the table; one takes both out together.
Two séfarim (e.g. Rosh Chodesh falling on Shabbat) call for a precise sequence. One does not uncover the second until the first is rolled, and one does not set aside the first until the second has been placed on the table — שלא יסיחו דעתן מן המצוה, so as not to divert attention from the mitzva and leave a moment without a séfer of honour before the assembly. Indeed one takes both out together.
The siman in one sentence: one never grasps the séfer Torah bare (בלא מטפחת); its guelila goes to the greatest of the readers, a cherished mitzva; one stops it facing the seam (כנגד התפר), rolls it מבחוץ and tightens it מבפנים, one מגביה and another גולל; the maftir awaits the end of the guelila; and with two séfarim, one does not open the second until the first is rolled.

Practical cases

Case 1 — Holding the séfer Torah

Situation: he is asked to carry or hold the séfer Torah. May he grasp it directly?
Conduct: no — one never holds the parchment with bare hands. One grasps it by the cloth (מטפחת), the mantle or the case, out of honour for the séfer. The Rama is even scrupulous for the other כתבי הקודש if one has not washed one's hands. For the practical application, one follows one's Rav.

Case 2 — Rolling the séfer (the guelila)

Situation: he has the honour of the guelila. How does one roll correctly?
Conduct: one stops the rolling facing the seam (כנגד התפר), so any tear follow the seam and not the parchment. One rolls מבחוץ and ties the knot מבפנים. Per the custom, one lifts (מגביה) and another rolls (גולל), the writing turned toward the מגביה. For the details, one follows one's Rav and community.

Case 3 — Two séfarim Torah

Situation: a day of two readings (two séfarim). In what order does one handle them?
Conduct: one does not open the second nor remove its cloth until the first has been rolled; and one does not set aside the first until the second has been placed on the table — שלא יסיחו דעתן מן המצוה. One takes both out together from the ark. For local usages, one follows one's Rav.

Comprehension questions

Check your understanding:
  1. Why does one not hold a séfer Torah bare, and to what does the Rama extend this rule (séif 1)?
  2. Who is the גולל and why is this mitzva acquired at a high price (séif 1)?
  3. Why does one stop the séfer facing the seam (כנגד התפר) when rolling it (séif 3)?
  4. What do מגביה and גולל mean, and toward whom is the writing (séif 4)?
  5. On a day with two séfarim, when does one open the second and why (séif 8)?

Going further

If you wish to deepen this siman:
Continue to the next simanSiman 148 →
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DAAT · רב יוסף חיים סממה

סימן קמ״ז · ח׳ סעיפים · Level 1 — Introduction
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