The guidelines for shippping and storing megilos1 are essentially the same as those for tefilin.
To summarize:
- Megilos should be shipped in rigid, airtight packaging to protect against damage in transit.
- Once a shipped megila reaches its destination it should be immediately unwrapped and unrolled as much as possible. It should then be left exposed to the air for a few hours in a safe, cool, and dry location.
- For long-term storage, megilos should be loosely rolled and placed in a non-airtight container or bag – preferably in an environment that is temperature- and humidity-controlled.
- Never store a megila for extended periods of time in airtight packaging.
- Never store a megila in an environment that experiences extreme temperature or humidity.
General Megila Care
Megilos should be handled only from the edges, taking care not to touch the text-area2.
It is essential that megilos be protected from moisture as much as possible. In the event that a megila does come in contact with liquid,3 the dampness should be immediately blotted with a tissue or similar material to prevent it from absorbing further into the parchment.
NOTE: Do not try to wipe the wet spot away; doing so will only spread the damage over a larger area.
If the area where the liquid touched the klaf does not have any writing, it should be enough to draw off the excess moisture and just wait 10–20 minutes for the klaf to dry completely. Once it is totally dry, the megila can be rolled back up and put away as usual.
If the liquid came in contact with some of the letters, it might cause the ink to bleed, which can invalidate the megila. In that case the wet spot should still be blotted and dried completely, but the megila must then be taken to an expert sofer for evaluation and possible repair work.
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These recommendations apply to Sifrei Torah and scrolls of nevi’im as well, except where noted. ↩
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The klaf of Sifrei Torah should preferably not be touched with bare hands at all – even in the margins – due to their elevated level of kedusha. If it is necessary to handle the klaf of a Sefer Torah, it should be done with a barrier (e.g. a talis of other piece of fabric) between the klaf and your hands. ↩
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In the course of normal usage, small drops of saliva or perspiration can sometimes fall onto a megila. ↩