It had been a few mishnaiot before, we saw the constricting guidelines for use of a found sefer. What lenity is practiced if the need is for the kahila? Does the zchus of the rabim mitigate the constraints?
Chag Purim Somayach.
H David Levine, Roanoke, VA USA
As the Gemara says, there is a Havah Amina that a person would let finders use his Sefarim even if they get some wear and tear, as long as a Mitzvah is done with his Sefer, but we do not say this, since a person prefers his Sefer whole and usable for a longer period rather than people doing Mitzvos with it while ruining the Sefer.
Another aspect (which the Ramban brings up and is mentioned l'Halachah) is that nowadays that the Sefarim and the way people learn from them do not cause harm to the Sefarim, the Halachah is different, and it is permissible to use a Sefer and do Mitzvos with the owner's objects.
I do not know of a difference between a private person's Mitzvah or a Tzorech Rabim in this case, but considering that reading the Parshah does not cause harm to the Sefer because it is done on a Bimah with no pulling and pushing of the Sefer, there is no reason to assume there will be wear and tear to the Sefer and it should be permitted to use the Sefer b'Tzibur.
Best Regards,
Aharon Steiner