Last week I posted some thoughts in response to a public lecture given by Rabbi Reuvain Mendlowitz regarding Ksav Chabad (the Alter Rebbe's ksav). I felt he did not represent the issue fairly, and since I had received questions about it from a number of people I felt it made sense to write a general response. After I posted my response on this forum, Rabbi Mendlowitz reached out to me by email and we ended up having a respectful and productive email exchange regarding the relevant issues surrounding Ksav Chabad. His position is a lot clearer to me now, and I think he also took certain things on board that I clarified with him. The purpose of the Stam Forum (at least back in it's heyday before all the whats app groups took over) was to connect sofrim from around the world, to promote achdus and build bridges, as well as to offer support and advice. In that spirit, I felt I should write a follow up post, to clarify some of the issues and misconception...
I believe it is a minhag common among Sefardim,and some Ashkenazim and therefore would be ok. You can find some of them with ancient Atzei Chaim, which shows this isn't a newer minhag.
ReplyDeleteBesides for the atzei chaim, it is also common to have it in a silver or wooden case. Look at pics below:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Olive-Wood-Judaica-Esther-Scroll-Megila-Case-/260955298823?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc225dc07
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMPLETE-ESTHER-ANCIENT-MANUSCRIPT-SCROLL-PARCHMENT-JEWISH-JUDAICA-JUDAIKA-/120852970717?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2365fcdd
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BEZALEL-PALESTINE-SILVER-FILIGREE-ESTHER-MEGILA-Scroll-/380391722405?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58911d0da5
Where does the minhag come from though?
ReplyDeleteHi Yehoshua,
ReplyDeleteBekitzur, the question is the other way around. Is it MUTAR to have a Megillah without an etz chayim?
If one looks at Shulchan Aruch 691:2, one will read that the megillah requires an AMUD at the end. Although, the minchag is not as such, take a look at the guemara in Bava Batra 13b, where Rashi informs us that the AMUD refers to a wooden pole that the scroll is wrapped on.
Regards.
As Alberto puts it "Is it MUTAR to have a Megillah without an Eitz Chayim"
ReplyDeletethe Rema brings the Mahril that the Minhag is "not" to put an eitz at all.The question is what brought this Minhag.
If I recall the Aruch Hashulchan(or might be other achron)explains that since there is a safek of the amud-wooden pole goes in the beginning and the empty column at end or vice virca the Minhag is not to put the eitz. My Rebbe the Pnei Menachem used a Megila with 2 Eitz Chaims (all Gerer Rebbes were careful not to handle Megila with bare hands as brought down in Sharrei Tshuva)
I had a thought, the reason the wooden Megila case with the little wood as a pullout piece was used was to have an Eitz on both sides without openly going against either explanation.