Procedure Torah reading

1 procedure

1.1 hagbaha
1.2 aliyot

1.2.1 first aliyah
1.2.2 benedictions of aliyah


1.3 gelila
1.4 maftir
1.5 haftarah
1.6 returning torah

procedure

boy reads torah according sephardic custom

the term torah reading used refer entire ceremony of taking torah scroll (or scrolls) out of ark, reading excerpts torah special tune, , putting scroll(s) in ark.

the torah scroll stored in ornamental cabinet, called holy ark (aron kodesh), designed torah scrolls. holy ark found in front of sanctuary, , central element of synagogue architecture. when needed reading, torah removed ark chosen honor among congregants; specific prayers recited removed. torah carried 1 leading services bimah — platform or table read; further prayers recited congregation while done.

ikuv keriah, no longer practiced, procedure community members have grievances addressed interfering service @ time torah removed ark.

hagbaha

in sefardic tradition, torah lifted before reading, , called levantar. in yemenite tradition, torah remains in resting position while parchment raised.

in ashkenazic tradition, lifting done after reading , called hagbaha. 2 honorees called: magbiah ( lifter ) performs hagbaha ( lifting [of torah] ) , displays torah s hebrew text see, while magbiah ( roller ) performs gelillah ( rolling [of torah] ) , puts on cover, belt, crown, and/or other ornaments. in conservative, reform, reconstructionist, , modern orthodox congregations, these roles may performed woman. titles female magbihah , golellet , respectively.

aliyot

a synagogue official, called gabbai, calls several people (men in orthodox , conservative congregations, men , women in others, , both men , women @ reform congregations) in turn, honored aliyah (hebrew: עליה‎‎, pl. עליות aliyot; ascent or going ), wherein honoree (or, more usually, designated reader) recites blessing on torah, between each verse. each reads section of day s torah portion. there @ least 3 olim (people called read torah):

on saturday mornings, there 7 olim, maximum of day, more may added if desired, subdividing these 7 aliyot or repeating passages (according custom of communities). when festival or yom kippur coincides shabbat readings divided 7 aliyot instead of 5 or six.

in congregations, oleh not himself read torah aloud. rather, stands near while practiced expert, called ba al k ri ah ( 1 in charge of reading ; ba al ko re), reads torah, cantillation, congregation. in congregations oleh follows along expert, reading in whisper. in yemenite communities, oleh reads portion himself, while person, young boy, recites targum after each verse.

in both orthodox , conservative congregations, common practice give out aliyah man (or woman, in conservative congregations) has recovered serious illness, or returned long trip, or survived other significant danger, in order allow him (or her) recite special blessing, known benching gomel .

aliyot given groom-to-be, or in egalitarian congregations, bride-to-be , groom-to-be, together, in pre-wedding ceremony known aufruf .

in jewish custom, baby boys named in special ceremony, known brit milah, baby girls named during torah reading on shabbat or holiday, father (in non-egalitarian congregations), or both parents (in egalitarian congregations) being called aliyah prior naming, , special blessing baby.

the first aliyah

according orthodox judaism, first oleh (person called read) kohen , second levi; remaining olim yisr elim — jews neither kohen nor levi. (this assumes such people available; there rules in place done if not.) first 2 aliyot referred kohen , levi, while rest known number (in hebrew). practice followed in not conservative synagogues. reform , reconstructionist judaism have abolished special ritual roles descendants of biblical priestly , levitical castes.

each oleh, after being called torah, approaches it, recites benediction, portion read, , oleh concludes benediction. next oleh called.

the gabbai recites hebrew verse upon calling first person torah. after that, men called with: ya amod (let him arise), [hebrew name] ben (son of) [father s hebrew name] [ha-kohen (the kohen) / ha-levi (the levite)] (the name of aliyah in hebrew). in synagogues women may receive aliyot, women called ta amod (let arise), [hebrew name] bat (daughter of) [father s hebrew name] [ha-kohen (the kohen) / ha-levi (the levite)] (the name of aliyah in hebrew).

these aliyot followed half-kaddish. when torah read in afternoon, kaddish not recited @ point, rather after torah has been returned ark.

the benedictions of aliyah

the person called read torah – summons called aliyah , person honored called oleh – hastens seat desk, going directly desk without interruptions. although around world, including north america, many congregations have trained scroll reader actual recitation, considerable honor of reading attributed oleh. if there previous portion read, previous oleh steps aside desk. oleh takes place @ desk facing open scroll, verse portion begins pointed out him, may kiss scroll (usually kissing corner of prayer shawl or torah wrapping , touching margin – not writing – of scroll), , may close eyes, or avert face, or otherwise indicate blessing recite not being read text of torah. while reciting blessings holds both handles of scroll, , if actual scroll reading done else, oleh steps side continues hold 1 hand 1 of scroll s handles.

the preliminary blessing

the oleh says, preferably in confident voice (as call congregational response):

בָּרֲכוּ אֶת־יהוה הֵמבוֹרָךְ׃

barchoo et-adonai hamvorah.

you bless lord blessed.°     (°   or blessed 1 )

the congregation responds traditional blessing:

בּרוּךְ יהוה הֵמבוֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃

baruch adonai hamvorah l olam va ed.

bless lord blessed forever , eternally.

the oleh repeats blessing uttered congregation.

the oleh say:

בּרוּךְ אֵתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם׃

אֲשֶׁר בָּחר־בָּנוּ מִכָּל־הָמִּים וְנָתַן־לָנוּ אֶת־תּוֹרָתוֹ׃

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה׃

baruch atah adonai, eloheynu melech ha olam.

asher bahar-banu mikal-ha amim ve nosan-lanu es-toraso.

baruch atah adonai, nosayn ha-torah.

blessed you, o lord our god, king of existence,

who chose among nations , gave torah.

blessed you, o lord, gives torah.

[congregation: ]   amen.




the concluding benediction

the portion of torah read. if more skilled person doing recitation, oleh follow reading (using scroll or printed book) in subdued voice, members of congregation. when portion finished, oleh says concluding benediction:

בּרוּךְ אֵתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם׃

אֱשֶׁר נָתַן־לָנוּ תּוֹרַת אֶמֶת׃

וְחיֵי עוֹלָם נָטֵע בְּתוֹכֵנוּ׃

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה׃

baruch atah adonai, eloheynu melech ha olam.

asher nosan-lanu toras emes.

ve hayay olam nota besohaynu.

baruch ata adonai, nosayn ha-torah.

blessed you, o lord our god, king of existence,

who has given torah of truth,

and life everlasting within us.

blessed you, o lord, gives torah.

[congregation: ]   amen.

at point, if oleh has been in danger of death (such serious sickness or surgery or airplane flight or captivity), add birkhat hagomel – blessing of god has dealt kindly me . officiant may add benediction oleh s health, , there other blessings may added depending on situation. oleh kiss scroll again, , may shake hands oleh of previous portion, returns seat, , if there portion read, oleh steps aside next oleh, stands beside desk while next oleh reads portion, shakes hand , offers felicitation, officiant , actual scroll reader honor has received, , returns seat – slowly, if reluctant leave scroll, , pause on way accept felicitations of various members of congregation.

in north america, , elsewhere, many congregations extend honor of aliyah visitors or new members, members have attained major life event, , relatives of bar mitzvah boy. refusing aliyah regarded insult torah itself. desirable might expect such honor rehearse these blessings beforehand in order creditable performance when occasion occurs.

gelila

after reading, if torah not in wooden case, golel ( roller ) performs gelila ( rolling ), binds torah sash , replaces torah s cover. honor given child under bar mitzvah age.

maftir

on days when haftarah read (see haftarah below), there final aliyah after kaddish, called maftir. person called aliyah, well, known maftir. on holidays, maftir read torah verses describing sacrifices brought in temple in jerusalem on particular holiday. in progressive synagogues alternative readings read. on saturday, maftir repetition of last few verses of parsha.

when torah read on afternoon of fast day (and on yom kippur), third aliyah considered maftir, , followed haftarah.

haftarah

on saturday , holiday mornings, on afternoons of fast days , yom kippur, torah reading concludes haftarah – reading 1 of books of prophets. haftarah relates in way either torah reading of day, theme of holiday, or time of year.

returning torah

the torah scroll put in ark accompaniment of specific prayers.

the chazzan takes torah scroll in right arm , recites let them praise name of hashem, name alone have been exalted. congregation responds psalm 148, verses 13–14.