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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION

Siman קמ״ח · The teiva and the congregation

שלא יפשיט שליח ציבור את התיבה בציבור — the shaliach tzibbur does not strip the coverings of the teiva before the congregation: אין שליח ציבור רשאי להפשיט את התיבה בציבור כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת, מפני כבוד הציבור; and the טורח ציבור per Rashi
סימן קמ״ח · סעיף אחד
שלא יפשיט שליח ציבור את התיבה בציבור
🌱 Introductory level · Beginners
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This siman teaches a rule of regard for the congregation: אין שליח ציבור רשאי להפשיט את התיבה בציבור — the shaliach tzibbur does not strip the coverings of the teiva in public, כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת (as long as the congregation is in the synagogue), מפני כבוד הציבור (out of regard for it); and Rashi gives the reason: it is a טורח ציבור (a burden) to detain it. Hebrew text, fluent English translation and explanation of the seif, with a section of practical points.

Topic: The shaliach tzibbur does not dismantle the teiva before the congregation — כבוד הציבור, טורח ציבור
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן קמ״ח · סעיף אחד

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

Our Sages instituted many rules of regard for the congregation (כבוד הציבור). The siman gives an example: the teiva — the portable stand on which the Torah is read — was, after the reading, taken apart and returned to its place; the shaliach tzibbur must not dismantle and put it away before the congregation as long as it is still present, for that would detain it and slight its honor. 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 seif — אין שליח ציבור רשאי להפשיט את התיבה בציבור כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת, מפני כבוד הציבור, and the טורח ציבור (Rashi)
1. Practical point — when to put the teiva away: the congregation leaves first
2. Practical point — regard for the congregation (כבוד הציבור) in daily life
3. Practical point — not to impose a טורח ציבור (the waiting)
+ Comprehension questions and going further

A. The shaliach tzibbur and the teiva — the seif

שֶׁלֹּא יַפְשִׁיט שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר אֶת הַתֵּבָה בְּצִבּוּר — that the shaliach tzibbur should not dismantle the teiva in public — a single rule: אין שליח ציבור רשאי (he is not permitted) להפשיט את התיבה בציבור (to strip the coverings of the teiva in public) כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת (as long as the congregation is in the synagogue); the reason is כבוד הציבור (the honor of the congregation); and Rashi specifies the טורח ציבור — the burden of waiting.
אין שליח צבור רשאי להפשיט את התיבה בציבור כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת.
The seif: the shaliach tzibbur is not permitted to strip the coverings of the teiva in public (בציבור) as long as the congregation is still in the synagogue (כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת) — for it is an affront to כבוד הציבור, the honor of the congregation.

להפשיט את התיבה — to strip the coverings of the teiva

The teiva here refers to the stand (or portable box) on which the sefer Torah was placed for the reading, robed in its draperies. להפשיט ("to strip, to undress") means to remove those coverings in order to put it away. The rule concerns the moment at which one does so: not before the congregation, but after it has left.

בציבור · כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת — in public, as long as they are there

Two complementary specifications: בציבור (in the presence of the public) and כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת (as long as the congregation is still in the synagogue). The prohibition targets that precise moment. Once the congregation has left, there is no longer any affront, and the shaliach tzibbur may put the teiva away.

מפני כבוד הציבור — out of regard for the congregation

Here is the reason: כבוד הציבור, the honor due to the congregation. One does not make it wait, nor watch the dismantling of the stand: that would slight its honor. The congregation leaves first; the putting-away is done afterward, out of its sight.

טורח ציבור — the burden on the congregation (Rashi)

Rashi illuminates the reason: it was customary to bring the sefer Torah from another house where it was kept safe, then to carry it back there. Putting away the teiva and escorting the sefer takes time; to detain the congregation for this would be a טורח ציבור — a burden. Out of כבוד הציבור, one does not impose it upon them.
The siman in one sentence: אין שליח ציבור רשאי להפשיט את התיבה בציבור כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת, מפני כבוד הציבור — the shaliach tzibbur does not dismantle the teiva before the congregation: it leaves first, and one does not impose upon it the טורח ציבור of waiting (Rashi).

Practical points

Point 1 — When to put the teiva away

Situation: the Torah reading is over; the teiva and its coverings must be put away. When is it done?
Conduct: not before the congregation. One waits until it has left the synagogue, then dismantles and puts away: כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת — the prohibition holds only while it is present. For the application to each synagogue's customs, one follows one's Rav.

Point 2 — Regard for the congregation

Situation: why this attentiveness to the moment of putting away?
Conduct: out of כבוד הציבור — the honor of the congregation. This siman illustrates a broader principle: one does not detain the community nor expose it to service tasks that would make it wait. It is a mark of respect toward the public gathered for prayer. For the many applications of this principle, one follows one's Rav.

Point 3 — Not to impose a טורח ציבור

Situation: in what way would detaining the congregation be a problem?
Conduct: according to Rashi, the sefer Torah came from another house; putting away and returning took time. Making the congregation wait would be a טורח ציבור (a burden). This point helps to grasp the reason: the halakha is careful not to weigh upon the public. For deeper study, one follows one's Rav.

Comprehension questions

Check your understanding:
  1. What is the teiva, and what does « להפשיט את התיבה » mean?
  2. What does « כל זמן שהם בבית הכנסת » specify about the moment of the prohibition?
  3. What is the reason for the rule (כבוד הציבור)?
  4. How does Rashi explain the טורח ציבור?
  5. When may the shaliach tzibbur put the teiva away?

Going further

If you wish to deepen this siman:
Continue to the next simanSiman 149 →
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DAAT · רב יוסף חיים סממה

סימן קמ״ח · סעיף אחד · Level 1 — Introduction
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