382. The Proper Intention

Tefillin, Mezuzah v’Sefer Torah 1:10

Sifrei Torah, tefillin and mezuzos may not be written on the hide of non-kosher animals or birds. One may use the hides of any kosher animal or bird, even those that died without ritual slaughter or that were killed by predators. One may not write on the skin of a fish because of unpleasant secretions that will not stop when the skin is turned into parchment.

Tefillin, Mezuzah v’Sefer Torah 1:11

The g'vil used for writing a sefer Torah and the klaf used for writing tefillin and a sefer Torah must be prepared with this intention in mind. If they were prepared without the proper intentions, they are invalid. Therefore, if these parchments were prepared by a non-Jew, they can not be used for this purpose. Even if a Jew directs a non-Jew to make the parchment with the intention that it be used for a sefer Torah or tefillin, it is not acceptable; a person has his own intentions in mind, not those of the one who hired him. Therefore, whenever a mitzvah requires having a specific intention in mind, it may not be done through a non-Jew. A mezuzah’s parchment need not be made with this intention in mind.