Completing A Sefer
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Completing A Sefer
The question was asked to the
Tiferes Shmuel[1]
regarding one who makes a Seuda after he finished writing a Sefer or when the
printing for the Sefer was finished if that is considered a Seudas Mitzva just
like if one finished a Mesachta. One difference would be if he can eat meat if
this day falls out during the nine days. Among what he writes there is that
Chidushim in Torah is so great of a Mitzva that it is permitted to write them
on Chol Hamoed. It is greater even than regular learning. This is מצות לימוד תורה לרבים; a Mitzva of public learning.[2]
So, at the finishing of this Mitzva it is fitting to celebrate and make a Seuda
more than a Siyum on a Mesachta and it surely is a Seudas Mitzva. And it
certainly is better than a Seuda that is made by one who had a miracle
performed for him, on the day that miracle happened to him or on a day that a
Sefer Torah and holy vessels are given to a Shul. One can surely eat meat and
drink wine at this Seuda during the nine days, just like a Seuda of a Siyum or
other Seudos Mitzvos.
In
שו"ת חקקי לב,
[3]the author writesמי שזיכהו ה' להדפיס ספר חדש אף כשהוא אבל מותר לו לאכול וגם אם נתעסק
בסידור הספר אף שאין הספר שלו...; Even one who is a mourner can eat when he celebrates a new
Sefer. And even if he only edited the Sefer or did the layout of the Sefer,
although it’s not his Sefer, or if he only paid for the publication of the
Sefer, it is obvious that he can eat at a Seuda for the celebration of the
Sefer. That is, although it would otherwise be a day he would fast such as a
Bechor on Erev Pesach.
What
about saying שהחיינו on completing a Sefer? The Chida to Sefer
Chassidim[4]
writes for one who finishes a Sefer and one who prints a Sefer to say שהחיינו without שם ומלכות (ה'
אל-הינו מלך העולם). R’ Yaakov Emdin[5]
says to recite a regular שהחיינו. The Munkatcher Rebbe recited שהחיינו on his Sefer, the Minchas Elazar.[6]
The Kaf Hachaim[7]
writes if possible one should exempt his שהחיינו with a new garment or
fruit. He also says there that one who prints from his money a Sefer of
Chidushai Torah of others should say a שהחיינו on a new garment or
fruit to exempt him from this שהחיינו or say שהחיינו without שם ומלכות…
[1] שו"ת
תפארת שמואל,
55. This was authored by R’ Yaakov Shmuel Ben Avraham Yeshaya from Brodsky. He
was a Rav in Yanishpali.
[2] See the Tur and Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah, 270:2
that it is a Mitzva not just to write a Sefer Torah but all books of Torah.
[3] Yoreh Deah, 56
[4] 1020
[5] Mor Uktzia 223
[6] Minchas Elazar 4:65. See also the Hakdama to the
Minchas Yitzchak, s.v. וראיתי and the Netziv in Haamik Shaila toשאילתות דרבי
אחאי,
Devarim, 171
[7] 223:26
[8] Hakdama to the Minchas Yitzchak, s.v. ואיתא
[9] Devarim 31:19