What are the different categories of mumarim?


There are three types of mumarim (apostates): those who transgress Torah out of desire, those who transgress out of spite, and those who transgress for an unspecified reason. A mumar leta’avon (out of desire) is one who does aveiros for pleasure, whether bodily or monetary. A mumar lehachis (out of spite) is one who does aveiros just for the sake of transgressing. A person who is offered both kosher and non-kosher meats of similar quality and deliberately chooses non-kosher is a mumar lehachis. Some say that a person who randomly chooses the non-kosher piece also falls into this category. A mumar stam is one who transgresses for an unspecified reason.

ס"ק ו וביה"ל ד"ה או; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 11




Which aveiros give a person the status of mumar?



A mumar lehachis is halachically classified as a non-Jew, even if he transgresses just one averiah. A mumar stam only reaches that status if he serves avodah zora, publicly desecrates Shabbos, or casts off the yoke of mitzvos. The poskim disagree about whether a person can become a mumar lehachis or mumar stam just by doing the aveirah once, or whether it must be done three times. A mumar leta’avon is not classified as a non-Jew.

[סעיף א, ס"ק ו, וביה"ל ד"ה או; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 6 ו־12




Can a mumar write Sta"m?


Sta”m which was written either by one who is exempt from the mitzvah or by one who does not believe in keeping the mitzvah is not kosher. L’chatchila, a mumar leta’avon--who is disengaged from the mitzvah of tefillin, but not out of spite--should not write tefillin either. In addition, he should not form the batim or tie the kesharim of tefillin, and he should not sew together the pieces of parchment for a sefer Torah. Likewise, a person who does not believe in the mitzvah of shechitah should not shecht for other people.

סעיף א-ב, ס"ק ו, ח ו־י, וביה"ל ד"ה או, ד"ה שאינו וד"ה בכל
  • A child is established as a bar mitzvah through shonim (years) and s’aros (two hairs). This means that he must have reached his thirteenth birthday and grown two pubic hairs. Until he reaches both milestones, he is categorized halachically as a child.

  • Only an adult male can count towards a minyan. Although there are generally two criteria necessary to establish adulthood in a male, with respect to a minyan it can be assumed that a thirteen-year-old has met both criteria.

  • A person who can afford either tefillin or mezuzos should purchase tefillin, since they have greater kedusha.


  • Must one burn tefillin written by an idol worshipper?





  • What should be done with tefillin written by a denier of the words of Chazal?




  • Can a woman tie tzitzis?
PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
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