Chapter 28: 8-10
The Torah Scroll and Sacred Texts
8. A tablecloth or mantle for a sacred article, should not be made from an article that was used for mundane purposes.* However, after the fact, if such an article was made from such material, it may be used. If it was made from an article that had been used for idol worship, it may not be used even after it has been made.
* {The Mogen Avrohom permits using material that was previously used for mundane purposes, provided the form of the material that was previously used for mundane purposes, are fashioned. See also Mishnoh Beruroh 147:14.}
9. It is forbidden to use a holy text for one's own benefit - e.g., to stand it up for shade in the sun, or as a screen for modesty before a colleague. However, if the sun is shining too brightly on the text which one is studying, one may use another text for shade, since then one is not using it for one's won benefit. Similarly, it is permissible to place a sacred text under another text from which one is studying to raise it, to make studying easier. However, it is forbidden to place one text inside another, so that one will not need to search for one's place afterwards.
One should not rule a notebook on top of a sacred text since a notebook is not sacred until one has written in it.* Similarly, paper and the like should not be placed within a sacred text to be preserved.
* {However, once one has written words of Torah inside, leniency may be observed in times of need (Mishnoh Beruroh 154:31).}
10. A person who destroys sacred texts transgresses a Torah prohibition, as [Deuteronomy 12:4] states; "Do not do so to G-d, your Lord." The binders of books should be rebuked, because they often place pages from sacred texts in the covers of books.
Also care should be taken when giving old holy texts to a gentile binder to rebind. One should remove the old covers and hide them, lest the gentile use them for secular books.
