When Can Holy Items Be Used for Mundane Purposes?
When Can Holy Items Be Used for Mundane Purposes?
There is a klal (principle) in halachah of “Lev Beis Din masneh” (the Rabbinical Court stipulates). In the times of the Beis Hamikdash, certain items that were hekdesh (sanctified) or kadashim (holy sacrificial items) could sometimes be used for mundane purposes, provided that the Beis Din stipulated so in advance. Subsequently, this klal has sometimes been applied to allow the use of certain holy items for mundane purposes. This is so, as it is assumed that the person who prepared the items intended them to be used for mundane purposes as well, since that is the common custom.
Several applications of this klal are as follows:
If necessary, some authorities permit one to lean on a bimah, which is normally used for a Sefer Torah;
One may use an Aron Kodesh to house a pasul (non-kosher) Sefer Torah, not only kosher ones;
If it’s very important, one may light a candle for non-religious purposes from a shul candle.
Of course, one may not apply the rule of lev Beis Din masneh on their own, but if there is a prevailing custom to use certain items for mundane purposes, one may follow that custom. When buying or donating items to a shul, it is recommended not to rely on Lev Beis Din masneh; rather, one should actually stipulate that the items bought for the shul can be used for other purposes as well. #383
https://halacha2go.com?number=383