Bava Metzia 29b discusses what my responsibilities are if you leave your possessions with me while you’re away.

For instance (the Talmud would have said, if it could have) if I look after your car while you’re away on sabbatical, I ought to start it up every once in a while and drive it round the block, but it’s not cool for me to take it on vacation or use it to run errands. Unless you gave me permission in advance, obviously. When taking care of a valuable item, there are ways we expect people to behave.

Specifically, the Talmud discusses the most valuable item one might take care of; a sefer Torah.

1. If Reuven borrowed Shimon’s sefer Torah, he may not lend it to Levi. He may open it and read from it, but he may not read something for the first time, and another person may not read with him.

2. If Shimon left his sefer Torah with Reuven to look after, Reuven must roll it every 12 months, during which process he may open it and read from it. If he opened it for his own needs, he may not read from it.

3. Sumchus says a new sefer Torah is rolled every thirty days, and an old sefer Torah is rolled every twelve months; R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov says, new or old, it is rolled every twelve months.

From which we learn that there are minimum standards of care for a sefer Torah; if you are taking care of a sefer which does not belong to you, you must roll it at least every twelve months, possibly every month if it is new. You must also bear in mind that using the scroll causes wear and tear, just like using someone else’s car to run errands causes wear and tear.

I have mentioned the benefits of rolling before. Rolling keeps a sefer Torah flexible and prevents damage. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of regularly rolling your new sefer.