Splitting "Beis El" Across Two Lines in a Sefer Torah

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Rabbi Itzik (Isaac)

Description

The Chasam Sofer rules that ideally the words "בית אל" should not be split across two lines in a Sefer Torah, arguing that the Em LaMasores' citation of the Minchas Shai permitting such a split contains a scribal error and the original text prohibited it. If already written with the split, the scroll remains valid bedieved; to correct it, one should hang the word "בית" above the line rather than erase "אל," out of caution for anything resembling a divine Name.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer YD §270

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