Faith
What is the proper order for stacking sacred books?
Question
Hello, honored rabbi!
I heard that there is a certain order in which sacred books should be placed when they are stacked one on top of another. Is that true? And what is the order?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello,
1. It is permitted to place a Chumash on top of Neviim and Ketuvim, and certainly on top of books that fall under the category of Torah shebe'al peh, such as Mishnah and Gemara, etc.; however, it is forbidden to place Neviim and Ketuvim on top of a Chumash (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, section 282, subsection 19).
2. It is permitted to place Neviim on top of Ketuvim, and likewise to place Ketuvim on top of Neviim (Rema, there).
3. It is forbidden to place Torah shebe'al peh on top of Neviim and Ketuvim, and certainly on top of a Chumash (Responsa of R. Y. ben Migash, section 92).
4. It is permitted to place any book that falls under the category of Torah shebe'al peh on top of another book that is likewise in the category of Torah shebe'al peh; therefore, it is even permitted to place later halachic works on top of Mishnah and Gemara (see what is cited on this in the book Ginzai HaKodesh, chapter 3, subsection 29. This was also ruled in Responsa Olat Yitzchak, part 2, section 216, letter 1; in Responsa Shevet HaKehalti, part 2, section 301, letter 5; and in part 3, section 270, letter 5).
5. In principle, it is permitted to place Torah shebe'al peh on top of a siddur, and one who is stringent will be blessed (see Ginzai HaKodesh there, subsection 30, for the opinions on this matter).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
