Ask the Rabbi
  • Halacha
  • G-d's Name and Holy Writings
  • G-d's Name and Gnizza
קטגוריה משנית
undefined
Question
I purchased a Nano Tanakh pendant - this is a tiny microchip engraved with the entire Tanakh. It is worn on a necklace attached to a pendant. The engraving is microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye, it can only be seen under a microscope. My question is there any halachic concerns with wearing this in a bathroom? Should it be removed prior to entering a bathroom? Or worn hidden under clothing ? Or is there no halachic concerns as the engraving is microscopic and not visible with the naked eye? Thanks for your help with this question.
Answer
ב"ה Shalom Though technology advances all the time, a similar question was asked about 100 years ago and answered by Rav Shalom Mordechai Shvadron zt"l. in his sefer שו"ת מהרש"ם חלק ג ' סימן שנז. . The question was then when the entire Tanach was photographed and printed in letters readable only by microscope. His ruling then was, that because it is not in "ktav Ashuri"- the same letters as in a Sefer torah , and it is not hand written by man, the Tanach doesn't really have Kedusha, nonetheless it should not be treated with any disrespect and therefore it always best that it be covered. Similarly wrote Rav Binyamin Arey Weiss zt"l in בשו"ת אבן יקרה חלק ב' סימן לג). However, some poskim were more lenient and felt because of the microscopic, non- discernible letters , there is no problem entering a bathroom . (See Rav Menashe Klein zt"l inמשנה הלכות חלק ד' סי' קכט, חלק ה' סי' קנ"ז Contemporary organizations, the Tzomet Institute of Halacha and Technology and the Kav Hahalacha Haspharedi also wrote that there is no problem entering a bathroom with a Tanach in nano print. However, since, the issue is in dispute, my suggestion would be that upon entering a bathroom, simply , slip it under a shirt, or conceal it under some clothing, this way you actions are not in any dispute. This was the practice of the 15-16th century Radbaz, Rav David ben Shlomo Ibn Zimra הרדב"ז (ח"ג סימן תקיג), who upon entering a bathroom, would put the Divrei Torah he had on him under his hat or in a pocket. All the best
Ask a follow-up question
Popular Questions
Recent Questions
Recent Questions
את המידע הדפסתי באמצעות אתר yeshiva.org.il