Marking up books

[1+1=5]

Hi all,

I'm rereading Pirkei Avos. I want to make small marks in pencil in the book. I know we would not do that to a Siddur, but is this permissible in Pirkei Avos?

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by 1+1=5

Hi all,
I'm rereading Pirkei Avos. I want to make small marks in pencil in the book. I know we would not do that to a Siddur, but is this permissible in Pirkei Avos?

I write in my books. I write prayers and insights in my books.
I have read that the sages wrote in their books including siddurim, for instance the names of those to remember in prayer.


I do this in my own copies, not in books that belong to other people.

[1+1=5]

Oh! Cool! I learned from someone (not sure whom) that writing in any of the books was considered horrible. I find my knowledge lacking when I cannot even write in small pencil marks, though.



Thanks!

[theflipflop]

You should how marked up all my Gamaras are. For sure you can write in them, assuming you own them.

[ben Shunamit]

I'm kind of ignorant, but I think one is not supposed to mark through the original, but only add. Anyone know for sure?

[Rachel NewYork]

Originally Posted by ben Shunamit

I'm kind of ignorant, but I think one is not supposed to mark through the original, but only add. Anyone know for sure?

That sounds right, to me. I frequently add notes in the margins of pages in books, but I wouldn't mark through the original words in the book. That would be like changing what was originally written, instead of just adding one's own, helpful notes.

I'm using Kindle more these days, and you can electronically add your own notes to a book on Kindle. You can also electronically "erase" your notes if you choose to do so, if you feel a need to revise what you previously noted. I also like the way you can highlight passages in Kindle, as well as bookmark.

[Pumpkin mouse]

I write notes in my regular books, on the side or margins. I also highlight books, so when I want to reread it or look something up, I only have to reread the highlighted parts.
Most of my notes are like comments or agreements with what’s written.
My good books, I don’t write in ,because I want to keep them pristine; that’s just me though.
It’s kind of like my own commentaries.
Siddurim, My Chumash, etc, I don't write in.
There’s really no room anyways to write because they already have commentaries written in them,of course.
My ArtScroll books, I don’t write in because they’re too nice to write in.
I do have 3 note books that I’ve been writing notes in too.