Lefties Carrying Sifrei Torah

QUESTION: I am a lefty. In which hand should I carry a sefer Torah? Should it be on my right side (the way a righty would carry a sefer Torah), or since I am a lefty, should I carry the Torah with my left hand on my left side? 

ANSWER: The Rema (OC 134) writes that the sefer Torah should be held with the right hand. Why is that so? The Maharil (referenced by the Vilna Goan and the Mishna Berurah) quotes Shir Hashirim (2:6), “V’yimino ti’chabkeini”, “His right hand enveloping me”. From this pasuk we see that an embrace is made with the right hand, and therefore we embrace the sefer Torah with the right hand as well. The Vilna Goan quotes a second source. Meseches Sofrim (3:8) states that one who passes or receives a sefer should do so with their right hand, because this is the way the Torah was given on Har Sinai, as it is written, (Devarim 33:2), “Mi’yimino aish das lamo” – “From His right hand he presented a fire of law to them”. We pass and receive a sefer Torah with our right hand to emulate Hakodosh Boruch Hu.   

What is the status of a lefty? Perhaps it will depend on these two sources. If we hold the sefer Torah with a right hand because an embrace is made with a right hand, then one can argue that a lefty would embrace with their left hand. However, if we are emulating Hakadosh Boruch Hu who gave the Torah with His right hand, then everyone should do the same and use their right hand, irrespective of whether they are a righty or lefty.  

In practice, the Pri Megadim (AA 134:5) writes “efsher” (it is possible) that a lefty should hold the Torah with his left hand, presumably because of the reference to an embrace, and a lefty would embrace with his left hand which is primary. However, the Mishnah Berurah (282:1) rules that both a righty and lefty must hold the Torah with their right hands. In the Shar Hatziyun (282:2) he explains why. Since Meseches Sofrim derives from Kabalas haTorah that the sefer Torah is held in the right hand, a right and lefty must do the same. It would seem that the Mishnah Berurah considers Meseches Sofrim the primary source for holding the Torah with the right hand, and therefore he rules there is no distinction between a right- or left-handed person.  

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.