It is a pleasant duty to learn Torah, and it is desirable to increase in learning at every opportunity. But- when the Sefer Torah is opened, it is forbidden * And, please disconnect your cell phone before entering the shul on weekdays
In the Book of Nechemia (Chapter 8, 5) it is written: "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people--for he was above all the people--and when he opened it, all the people stood up." The Gemara in Tractate Sotah (page 38)expounds on this posuk and explains it thus: Says Rava the son of Rav Huna, when the Sefer Torah is open, one is forbidden to converse, even on topics of halacha, as it says: 'and when he opened it, all the people stood up.' And when it refers to standing, it means standing in silence." Therefore, from the minute that the Sefer Torah is opened and the Kohein begins to recite the blessing, it is forbidden to speak, until the conclusion of the Haftorah. Maran in the Shulchan Oruch (Shulchan Oruch Orach Chaim 146, 62) rules that "from the time that the reader commences to read from the Sefer Torah, one is forbidden to speak, even about Torah matters." Maran stresses that the prohibition doesn't only refer to matters that are null and void (devorim betailim) but even to words of Torah.
In today's times it happens that many people forget to disconnect their cell phones before entering shul, and it happens that during the reading of the Torah someone answers his phone and begins to talk. This is shows disrespect to the Torah reading, there is no permission given to act in this manner, and one must protest to one acting in such a fashion.
In a similar vein, many pamphlets are distributed in shul; they are truly wonderful, spread the study of Torah in Israel and bring merit to the multitudes. The problem arises when people may peruse them during davening time or while the Torah is being read. It would be wise to refrain from giving them out until the end of the davening, so that no one will be tempted to read them when it is prohibited. |
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