Moving a Sefer Torah to Another Shul

Moving a Sefer Torah from one Place to Another

A Sefer Torah must be treated with utmost respect, to the extent that, absent certain conditions, it may not be moved from one location to another. The Zohar is very stringent on this point, and even forbids moving Sifrei Torah mi’bei kenishta l’bei kenishta (from one shul to another); some poskim maintain that they may not even be moved from one room to another. Taking a Sefer Torah out into the street would clearly be prohibited, unless it is for a Hachnasas Sefer Torah (dedication of a new Sefer Torah) or similar occasions clearly sanctioned in Halachah. Therefore, when moving a Sefer Torah, serious care must be taken to ensure that the necessary conditions are met:

Meyached lah makom: a designated place for the Sefer Torah must be established at the new location a day or two in advance of the move; or alternatively, 

K’vius: when a Sefer Torah is taken to a beis ha’avel (a mourner’s home), it is customary to use it at least three times for krias haTorah (reading the Torah), thus giving it permanence at its new location. Nonetheless, a special place should still be set aside for it.

However, if a Sefer Torah located elsewhere is needed temporarily by an existing minyan (quorum of ten men) and it’s extremely difficult for the group to move, there is room to permit bringing the Sefer Torah to them, so that they can meet their obligation of krias haTorah. #446

https://halacha2go.com?number=446

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.