Ros. Responsa 31 a

Ros. Responsa 31 a

Sefer Torah

1963

Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana

Haim Rodrigues Pereira

PereiraH

Orah Haim

TRUE

May funds received from insurance as compensation for the burning of two Torah scrolls, be used for other purposes, if a member has also donated a Torah scroll?

In a fire that broke out in a synagogue two Torah rolls were also burnt, one Kosher and the other void. The synagogue board made a contract with the insurance company to be compensated for any damages that might occur. And after the fire a clerk from the company and he assessed the damages in detail as usual and according to the policy to pay a specific amount to compensate for what had been burnt. And he sent the board a detailed account of the compensation amount for each and every item, including the Torah scrolls. But before the account was sent out one of the members of the congregation stepped forward and out of the kindness of his heart donated a Torah scroll to replace the burnt one. And now comes the question in front of the Rabbi if it is permissible to spend the compensation funds earmarked to replace the Torah scrolls for general maintenance of the synagogue of for some other purpose.