Returning a Sefer Torah

Question: We accidentally took out a sefer Torah which was not rolled to the right place. Could we have returned it to the aron hakodesh and swapped it for the right one or should we have rolled it to the right place?

Answer: The Gemara (Yoma 70a) teaches that while one should not normally read pesukim from the Torah off by heart, the kohen gadol would do so, so as not to cause tircha detzibbura, an unnecessary burden on the community while they would roll the sefer torah (See Mishna Berura 49:3).

Accordingly, Rambam (Tefilla 12:23) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 144:3) write that one should not roll a sefer Torah during kerias hatorah. Thus, when we read the maftir from a different sidra, we should remove another sefer Torah when possible.

R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 8:15:4) quotes many poskim who forbid returning a sefer Torah to the aron hakodesh once it has been taken out. As people may erroneously think that this sefer Torah is not kosher, it is deemed to be disrespectful to the sefer Torah (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 78:10).

The Kaf Hachaim (OC 144:13) and R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 2:37) write that there is a machlokes as to whether one may return a sefer Torah that is rolled to the wrong place. On the one hand we are concerned for the kavod of the sefer Torah, while on the other hand we do not want to cause tircha detzibbura. The Kaf Hachaim concludes that one must not return the sefer Torah. R’ Moshe, however, writes that while it is ideal to roll the sefer torah, the community can choose whether to roll it or to return it to the aron hakodesh.

In conclusion, if one accidentally removed a sefer torah that was not rolled to the right place, it is ideal to proceed and roll it. If doing so will cause a significant delay, they can choose to return it and remove another instead.