Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Which parts of the hide production must be done lishmah?

As we have learned, the hides for klaf must be tanned and soaked lishmah (for the sake of the mitzvah). The lishmah intent should be articulated. B’dieved, if the concept of lishmah was merely kept in mind, the klaf is still kosher. Before soaking the hide in lime, it is first soaked in water. Soaking in water does not have to be done lishmah. If one soaked it in water lishmah but did not articulate the thought when soaking it in the lime solution, the poskim disagree on whether the first thought suffices to render the klaf kosher for the mitzvah.

[שו"ע לב, ח, ומשנ"ב כד-כו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 43 ;וראה שם, 40]

Can klaf be used for something other than its original purpose?

Klaf which was produced for a Sefer Torah may also be used for tefillin and mezuzos. The high level of kedusha required by a Sefer Torah is certainly enough for tefillin and mezuzos, which have a lower level of sanctity. Klaf which was made for tefillin may be used for mezuzos, but not for Sifrei Torah. If klaf was made for mezuzos, it may not be used for Sifrei Torah or tefillin, because mezuzah has the lowest level of kedusha of the three. Klaf which was produced for any type of Sta”m may not be used for a mundane purpose. One may stipulate at the time of production that if he so chooses, he may use the klaf for a non-kodesh purpose.

[שו"ע לב, ח, ומשנ"ב כו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 45]

Can a non-Jew prepare the klaf?

The Rishonim disagree about whether a non-Jew may prepare the hides if a Jew instructs him to do it lishmah. Rambam and Tosfos rule that he may not. Rosh rules that as long as the Jew instructs him to do it lishmah and the non-Jew acquiesces, the klaf is kosher. One should be stringent in accord with first view unless there is no other klaf available. In that case, the Jew should try to participate in at least a small part of the process. If the Jew does not stand near the non-Jew, the klaf is invalid even if the Jew intends for the klaf to be lishmah.

[שו"ע לב, ט, משנ"ב כח-כט, ושעה"צ ס"ק לה; וראה ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 50 ]

Klaf which is used for Sta”m must first be prepared with sirtut (lines etched into the parchment). There are differences between the sirtut of tefillin and the sirtut of mezuzah. A mezuzah must have sirtut on each line and on the four sides of the perimeter of the column. Tefillin do not need sirtut on each line.

The hide of an animal has two layers. The inner part which touches the animal’s body is referred to as duchsustus and the outer part is known as klaf. Before the two layers are divided, the hide is known as gvil. The Gemara states that a Sefer Torah should be written on the outer side of gvil, tefillin should be written on the inner side of klaf, and mezuzah should be written on the outer side of duchsustus.

In the course of being prepared for writing, the parchment must be soaked in either a liquid known as mei afatzim or lime. Although there are different chemical solutions which can produce similar results, the original methods should still be followed.

Do the hides have to be tanned by hand?

How is a kosher symbol made for the hides?

Which hides may be used for Sta”m?

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.