reading from the Torah scroll (reading and blessings)
10
votes
1answer
94 views
הוא is he? Or is it?
The third-person feminine pronoun in Hebrew is היא, "hee." But in most instances in the Torah, the word is spelled הוא, with a vav rather than a yud as the middle letter. How does this make sense ...
10
votes
1answer
95 views
Ta'amei Mikra and the Torah Scroll
I have heard that a haftorah klaf (scroll) is still considered kosher and usable if the Ta'amei Mikra have been written on it. Yet I've always been told that this is not true for a Torah scroll. Why ...
12
votes
2answers
217 views
Gabai speaking during chazaras hashatz, kaddish or kriyas hatorah for the sake of the tzibbur
Is a gabai allowed to speak during chazaras hashatz, kaddish and/or kriyas hatorah for the sake of the tzibbur (e.g. to ask someone if they are a Kohen or Levi)?
0
votes
1answer
63 views
any source for the idea that the Baal Koreh represents Moshe Rabbainu?
I have heard that the Baal Koreh represents Moshe Rabbeinu like at matan torah. Does anybody have a source for that idea?
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Krias HaTorah (or Megillah) before Davening
If a minyan won't be able to read from the Torah at the time we normally read from the Torah (i.e. after Shemoneh Esrei, on any day where we read from the Torah) may they read from the Torah before ...
5
votes
1answer
53 views
Mistake in aliyah on Rosh Chodesh
On Rosh Chodesh we have four aliyos by Krias HaTorah.
Rosh Chodesh fell out on Monday and by mistake it was read by the first aliyah of Kohen the Parsha of that week. After the aliyah was finished ...
5
votes
1answer
121 views
Piyutim in the Scroll
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 139:4) discusses the potential issue that a listener might think that the blessings for an aliya are actually written in the Torah scroll. Different suggestions are offered for ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
When does the cantillation for Ester and other books change?
Sometimes people read some verses in Ester and other books in a different cantillation. For example, in Ester, some read the verse of "אשר הגלה מירושלים" to the tune of Eichah, and the Mishnah Brurah ...
3
votes
0answers
39 views
Catching Up When Saying Tachanun M/Th
On Mondays and Thursdays I often fall very behind during tachanun. I see two options — I can start with the congregation after having listened with proper intent during chazarat hashatz, or I can ...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
How important is it to read from a Torah on Rosh Chodesh?
Where does the practice of reading for the Torah on Rosh Chodesh come from and how crucial is it?
Would skipping it (due to lack of easily accessible Sefer Torah) constitute a serious transgression?
...
9
votes
4answers
166 views
Getting a head start on Shnayim Mikra
(Inspired by this question)
Can one get a head start on Shnayim Mikra? Would it count if someone either started early (perhaps during the weeks with no Sedra in Tishrei), or just had some spare time ...
2
votes
2answers
71 views
Opening up wrong Sefer Torah (Chol HaMoed Pesach)
In Eretz Yisrael on the first day of Chol HaMoed (just mentioning this to say where it happened) 2 Sifrei Torah were taken out for Krias HaTorah. They put one Sefer down on the bima and the other was ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
Pesach: Shira Taamim?
I cannot recall, find or ask anyone who remembers 100% if, when we read Shiras Hayam (from Beshalach) on the 7th day of Pesach, we do so using the regular taamim (Trupp) or the Taamey Shira, the same ...
12
votes
2answers
155 views
Which books help one acquire a systematic understanding of Biblical Hebrew grammar?
A question for the grammar experts. How can I learn Hebrew grammar in a systematic way? Especially a book that would help me understand how to layn properly. Something that covers rules of nikkud, ...
3
votes
0answers
68 views
Correcting tav/sav
If someone who usually pronounces the letter "ת" without a dagesh as "sav" is leining Torah, and he accidentally says "tav" in a place where he would normally say "sav", should the gabbai correct him? ...
9
votes
3answers
300 views
Why are some words in Tanach read differently than they are written?
From here:
The MT [Masoretic Text] includes the kere and ketiv system, in which marginal notes indicate that certain words are to be read differently than they are spelled in the text, or that ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Why do aliyos end with a different tune?
The communal Torah reading is divided into aliyos, sections read (originally and still in some places by, otherwise) on 'behalf' of distinct people, in succession. The Torah is read in a tune, and ...
1
vote
1answer
67 views
Ha-Gommel before or after Kaddish?
If the one reading from the Torah (whether it be on Mondays, Thursday, Shabbos, etc) has to say the bracha of "Ha-Gommel" when should it be recited? Is it ok to say it after the last aliyah before he ...
4
votes
1answer
37 views
Torah portions that end abruptly?
In parshat Va-era the 2nd portion - Sheini ends rather abruptly (in the middle of a sentence) Shemot 6:28:
Now it came to pass on the day that the Lord spoke to Moses in the
land of Egypt, ...
9
votes
3answers
221 views
Seven aliyot for V'zot Habracha?
In the Keter Yerushalayim Tanach (published by Hebrew University), parashat V'zot Habracha is divided into seven aliyot (aliyah 7 being all of chapter 34 of Devarim.) I don't see this in the Stone ...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
Can a chumash be used for a public torah reading?
I recently attended a weekday morning minyan where the Torah reader was reading simultaneously from a sefer Torah and a printed Chumash. It appeared that the person was mostly reading from Chumash and ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
Why does the mohel say the brocha at the bris?
Optimally, a father should circumcise his own sons. Optimally, an aliyah should read the Torah when called up. When we are called up for an aliyah, we say the brocha and the baal koreh reads for us. ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
Triennial reading cycle for guests
On one Shabbos, to accommodate a large number of guests from another shul who follow a triennial Torah reading cycle, can we revert to the triennial cycle reading for that one Shabbos?
8
votes
2answers
450 views
Hand motions for trope in Torah reading
I've seen people standing next to Torah readers and making hand signals during the Torah reading, presumably to prompt the reader in the trope. I think @Shalom mentioned this in Method for practicing ...
6
votes
4answers
180 views
Why does a Bar mitzva boy publicly read from the Torah?
Why do bar mitzva boys publicly read from the Torah for their bar mitzva? Where does the minhag come from?
0
votes
0answers
48 views
Different Aliyot for Same Torah Reading
We lane (read) the same for 1st Yom Tov of Sukkot and 2nd day of Pesach. I've noticed, however, that even though שלישי is in the same place, לוי isn't. Why would this be?
5
votes
0answers
42 views
Why do we read vayechal twice on a fast?
I have been doing some research on the question of vayechal at mincha and have hit a roadblock. So far, here are the questions I have considered and feel ok with as "answered":
why lain at mincha on ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
Shnayim Mikre during Krias HaTorah
May one read "Shnayim Mikre V'Echad Targum" during the leining of Krias HaTorah on Shabbos morning?
5
votes
0answers
99 views
Good resource for learning vowel pronunciation
In trying to improve my leyning, I'm trying to get the finer points of vowel pronunciation down.
What is a good resource to learn, e.g., the difference between a patach and chataf-patach or a ...
5
votes
1answer
68 views
Why is the Eicha reading broken up?
It seems to me that everywhere I've been, the reading of Eicha on Tish'a B-av night has been broken up, with different chapters read by different people. Why is this custom so prevalent, specifically ...
6
votes
1answer
94 views
Is Chazaq Chazaq v'nitchazeq חזק חזק ונתחזק an interruption for the reader?
Is it considered a hefsek for the Ba'al Kore to say חזק חזק ונתחזק, and, if it's not an interruption, is there a different problem because he is saying something which is not written in the Torah?
3
votes
3answers
158 views
8
votes
4answers
428 views
חזק חזק ונתחזק Chazak Chazak VeNischazek: why
Why do we say חזק חזק ונתחזק when we end each Chumash?
0
votes
2answers
132 views
7
votes
2answers
138 views
Standing during the Aseres HaDibros
There are people that always stand by Laining and people that always sit. Among those that sit there are those that stand at certain points, such as the Aseres HaDibros or the Shira, etc. Is it proper ...
3
votes
3answers
127 views
Does anyone know of a public domain recording of Tanakh chapters or verses?
The question title explains it all -- I'm looking for a public domain audio recording of the Tanakh. For example, these people have recorded Genesis:
...
0
votes
1answer
111 views
10
votes
1answer
195 views
Bar Mitzvah before Circumcision?
If one was never circumcised can they be called up to the Torah for their bar-mitzvah?
4
votes
1answer
73 views
Were Maftir Honors in 19th Century different from today?
I received a travel-diary for a man who was born in Huncovce (also known as Hunsdorf, once a famous yeshiva town, second only to Pressburg), Slovakia. He was born in 1851, presumably had some Torah ...
5
votes
1answer
116 views
Why does the second aliya of Vayeira start with the last verse of one topic and then change?
The second aliya of Vayeira begins at 18:15, with the end of the Sarah-denying-having-laughed episode. It then goes on to focus on S'dom and the other cities. This happens in the middle of a column, ...
2
votes
3answers
207 views
Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach Torah reading
Why is it that we read on Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach the Torah portion that is read on a fast-day?
3
votes
3answers
197 views
What is the Proper Way to Read Genesis 35:22?
In Parshas Vayishlach, there is a verse (Genesis 35:22) that contains a "Piska Be'emtza Pasuk": a new paragraph in the Torah scroll begins in the middle of the verse. However, unlike with other ...
6
votes
1answer
211 views
When Israel and the diaspora are out of sync on parshiyot, why don't we take the first opportunity to re-align?
This year (5772) the seventh day of Pesach is on a Friday, so the diaspora has an 8th day of chag on Shabbat but Israel does not. The diaspora will thus read Sh'mini on April 21, Tazria-Metzora on ...
3
votes
1answer
419 views
7
votes
4answers
385 views
Method for practicing Torah reading
What is your method for practicing reading a Torah portion and thus memorizing the associated vowelizations and intonations? I'm looking for ideas for maximizing your effectiveness at performing a ...
9
votes
1answer
85 views
Why Are These Double Parshiyos?
During a regular (non-leap) Jewish year, there are four instances where two of the weekly Torah portions are read together in the same week. This is because there are not enough weeks to read all of ...
3
votes
1answer
115 views
With which Torah can one fulfill the obligation of Parshas Zachor?
There is an argument between texts if the word "Petzua Daka" (Devarim 23:2) should be with an Alef or a Heih. Can someone fulfill his obligation to read Zachor (and normal Torah reading) with a Torah ...
14
votes
2answers
200 views
Why don't we use a translator during Torah reading?
Outside of the Teimanim I am not aware of any other segments of Judaism that still employ a meturgamen (translator) during kriat ha'torah. Why has this practice fallen into disuse?
6
votes
4answers
120 views
Parshas Zachor Sfardi versus Ashkenazi
Can a Sefardi be Yotzeh Zachor with an Ashkenazi Laining and vice Versa?
5
votes
2answers
369 views
Trop (cantillation) for leining
Who created the trop (cantillation) for leining? Is it a Mesorah from when the Torah was written?
