More About Parshi'os: Part 1

Size and placement of parsha breaks

A “parsha” is any section of text in Tanach that comes after a significant amount of blank space. A parsha can be a pesucha (open section) or a setuma (closed section) – depending on the form of the blank space that precedes it.1 The masora dictates where each parsha begins and ends, as well as whether it is open or closed. If a parsha break is missing, or added in the wrong place, or the wrong type – the STAM item is pasul.

There are disagreements among the poskim regarding the minimum amount of blank space required before a parsha, as well as the different forms of each type of parsha break.

Space Size

The Gemara and Rishonim discuss the breaks between parshi’os in terms of the number of letters-worth of space that should be left blank. The different opinions range from as many as ten letters-worth of space to as few as two letters-worth of space.

It is difficult to calculate precise measurements based on these early sources, because Hebrew letters are not a uniform width. Most letters are roughly as wide as they are tall, but a handful of letters are narrow – measuring about half the width of the regular-sized letters.

The first posek who gives a definitive measurement is the Rambam. He maintains that a parsha break should be the width of nine letters, which he defines as the word “אשר” written three times in a row. However, he does not consider this measurement a halachic requirement, and only lists it among ancient traditions of sofrim that add to the hidur of the STAM item.

Following the lead of the Rambam, all poskim agree that a parsha break should preferably be at least as wide as the word “אשר” written three times in a row.2 The minimum size of a parsha break – according to most later authorities – is the width of nine narrow letters.

Space placement

There are several ways to position the blank space between the sections of text. These are the most common forms of a parsha break:

  • Blank space at the end of the line:
    pesucha
    The text of the previous section ends in the middle of the line, there is a space after the text which reaches until the end of the line, and the next section starts at the beginning of the next line. All poskim agree that the section after this space is a parsha pesucha.

  • Blank space in the middle of the line:
    setuma
    The text of the previous section ends at the beginning of the line, there is a space in the middle of the line, and the next section starts at the end of the same line. All poskim also agree that the section after this space is a parsha setuma.

  • Complete blank line:
    blank
    The text of the previous section ends at the end of the line, the entire next line is left blank, and the next section starts at the beginning of the third line. According to the Rambam, the section after the skipped line is a parsha pesucha. According to the Rosh it is a parsha setuma.

  • Blank space at the beginning of the line:
    indent
    The text of the previous section ends at the end of the line, the next line starts with a blank space, and the next section of text starts in the middle of that line. According to the Rambam, the section after this space is a parsha setuma. According to the Rosh it is a parsha pesucha.

  • Blank space at the end of the line
    and at the beginning of the next line:

    split-space
    The text of the previous section ends in the middle of the line, and there is a space after the text which reaches until the end of the line. The next line starts with a blank space, and the next section of text starts in the middle of that line. According to the Rambam, the section after this space is a parsha setuma. The Rosh does not mention this form.

Practical Application

A parsha break that has the proper form or size only according to some poskim would make the STAM item pasul according to other poskim. In most situations we can sidestep all of these disputes by only utilizing parsha breaks that are acceptable according to all opinions.


note: In earlier generations it was difficult to write STAM with parsha breaks that are valid according to all opinions. In the modern era, all STAM is written based on precisely calculated layouts that take these considerations into account.


To make a parsha pesucha, end the previous section in the middle of the line, leaving a space that extends to the end of the line and is at least wide enough to write the word “אשר” three times. The text of the open section is started at the beginning of the next line.

To make a parsha setuma, leave a space in the middle of the line that is at least wide enough to write the word “אשר” three times – with text from the previous section at the beginning of the line, and text from the closed section at the end of the same line.

There are a few circumstances where it may not be possible to satisfy all opinions. They will be addressed in a future post.

-= 8 =-


  1. For a brief introduction to the types of parshi’os, see STAM 101: Parsha. ↩

  2. Some Achronim say that the space should be as wide as nine regular letters plus two narrow letters – to account for the spaces between the words “אשר אשר אשר”. ↩