CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
142. Kissing a Hebrew Book
QUESTION: I have seen many traditional Jews kiss a book which has been dropped. What is the reason for this and what is the origin of this custom? (Lottie Treidel, Pittsburgh PA)ANSWER: Reverence for books which contain the tetragrammaton has been associated with the reverence for the Divine name itself. Sensitivity about the written name of God was partially derived from the command to obliterate names of the idols (Deut. 12.3 ff.) with the subsequent injunction that this was not to be done to “the Lord your God.” Our concern with the name of God stems equally from the third commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex 20.7; Deut 5.11), and one interpretation of this commandment (W. Jacob “The Third Commandment” unpublished Prize Essay, Hebrew Union College, 1953). There was some discussion of this matter in the Talmud (Arahin 6a) in which we heard of a pagan who gave a large wooden beam to be used in the construction of the Temple. It was incised with the name of God and there was some question whether the beam could be worked and the name of God erased. Talmudic authorities decided that this incised name was not sacred as it was not the usual place in which the name of God was written. The medieval authorities agreed with this thought (Rashi ad loc; Yad Hil Yesodei Torah 6.1 ff). The Talmud continued the discussion and indicated that despite the passage in Arahin in most instances the name was to be preserved (Mak 22a) and the later tradition agreed (Yad Hil Yesodei Torah 6.1 ff). Our texts dealt with the name inscribed on pieces of metal or tattooed on skin, uses which were not normal. These discussions brought about a later absolute reverence for the name of God which was never to be obliterated or destroyed (Sefer Hahinukh #437; B. Jacob Im Namen Gottes pp 164 ff). All of this has led to great care with printed texts. The actual custom of kissing a book which has been dropped arose in the Middle Ages in Germany and was first found among the Hassidim (Sefer Hassidim #691). The custom was probably also influenced by the other minhag of fasting if a Torah Scroll was accidently dropped (Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 40.2; Mishpetei Shemuel # 12) . Both of these customs together have emphasized the sacredness of Hebrew books and the respect which they deserve. Such a reverence for books has been an important educational element in our life and should be fostered.July 1988
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