Questions tagged [torah-service]

the prayer service and ceremony surrounding communal reading from the Torah scroll

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In what relative positions are multiple Sifrei Torah placed on the bimah?

When two Sifrei Torah (when the second sefer is needed for a special maftir) are placed on the bimah just before hagbah for the first Torah, should the first sefer read from be on the left or the ...
Jakub's user avatar
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When there is no Levi, why do we call up the SAME Kohen "bimkom Levi" - "in place of a Levi."

The Torah.org halakha class says, If a kohen is present in the synagogue, he must be called to receive the first aliyah. After the Kohen, a Levi is called. If a Levi is not present, the same ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
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1 answer
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Tircha D'Tzibbur vs. Kavod Hatorah - which wins?

It's hard for me to properly phrase the question, but here's the "ma'aseh shehaya" (scenario): It was Shabbat Rosh Hodesh, parshat Balak, I believe. They took out 2 Sifrei Torah. I waited for the ...
DanF's user avatar
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I'm in the middle of Tachanun when they take out the Torah; what do I do?

This happens to me a lot on Mondays and Thursdays: I'm just putting down my head to finish Tachanun when the baal tefilah says kaddish, the aron is opened and the Torah is taken out. Do I stop what ...
Bruce James's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
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Why call so many olim "moreinu"?

I davened in a couple of different Chassidish shuls over the past few days, and in two different places (Tenka and Munkacs), I noticed that nearly all men who were called up for an aliya were ...
Isaac Moses's user avatar
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When and why did Torah-reading "aliyot" begin?

I was able to locate only one reference discussing how public Torah reading was done (i.e. - who read it): Originally the Torah was read in public once every 7 years during Hakhel Mishneh Torah, ...
DanF's user avatar
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How much of the standard תורה service is done on שמחת תורה?

I've seen a number of Simchas Tora customs in Ashkenazic practice and/or prescribed by Ashkenazic prayer books. Specifically, I think I've seen both sides of each of the following dichotomies, ...
msh210's user avatar
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Having a descendant read about Aharon's death on its anniversary

This week is the somewhat rare Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Av. When that happens, we always read the section containing Numbers 33:38 about Aharon's death on Rosh Chodesh Av. In most communities this week a ...
Double AA's user avatar
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Hazi"v La"kh: what's behind the division?

The Talmud (Rosh Hashana 31a) tells us that the Haazinu song (Devarim 32) was sung weekly in the Temple and divided into six segments, given by the mnemonic HaZIV LaKh הזיו לך (where each letter is ...
Double AA's user avatar
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Kissing a Sefer Torah as it passes

Some people in shul mark it as a sign of respect, as the Torah makes its way to/from the Aron Kodesh, to kiss it, and rush to get as close as possible. Others, given the cold season, think that this ...
cmose's user avatar
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Talking during Torah reading

Is one permitted to talk during the communal Torah reading?
cookie monster's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
606 views

Formal Hebrew honorific for one's mother

Many men, when going up for an aliya, tell the gabbai their name as, e.g. "Reuven ben Rav Yaakov", even if "Yaakov," the father, isn't actually a Rabbi." I believe the reason for this practice is to ...
Isaac Moses's user avatar
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A meshabarach prior to going on aliyah

My family and I will be making Aliyah in a couple of weeks. Is there a customary meshabarach for a person who is about to make Aliyah?
Larry K's user avatar
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Is a new blessing required when taking off and putting back on your tallit?

You remove your tallit while services are ongoing (say, to go to the bathroom). When you put it back on, do you have to say the blessing on the tallit again?
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
603 views

Why do we put the belt (gartel) of the Sefer Torah on the top third?

I have observed in the Shuls I Daven in that the one who does Gelila often puts the belt (gartel) on the top third of the Sefer Torah. Is there a reason or source for this? Why not in the middle?
Gershon Gold's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
655 views

Halachically, are you allowed to "remove" a sick person from the Mi Sheberach "list"?

In my shul, people mention or write the name of a sick person on a slip of paper and give this to the rabbi who adds it to an existing stack of names. Since I am the Torah reader, I announce Mi ...
DanF's user avatar
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Is "קל ארך אפים" said if the Torah's not to be read from?

Tachanun is supplemented on Mondays and Thursdays by extended tachanunim starting "V'hu rachum". On those days, after tachanun is half-kadish (kadish l'ela, as some call it), a short paragraph that ...
msh210's user avatar
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Why are there different intro. prayers for calling the Kohen aliyah on Shabbat vs. weekday?

Prior to calling the Kohen aliyah for Torah reading, there is an introductory paragraph said by the gabbai or ba'al kri'ah. Following is Nusach Ashkenaz as found in Art Scroll and Birnbaum, Ashkenaz, ...
DanF's user avatar
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When was the Yad first used to read the Torah?

When was the tradition of using the yad started? How long has this practice been in use, please?
Alexandra Laing's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
162 views

Holding the Torah (after Gelilah)

After hagbahah and gelila (in Ashkenazi schuls), the Torah must remain out until the proper point of return. In some schuls, I have seen special furniture to hold the Sefarim. In others, I have seen ...
Noach MiFrankfurt's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
105 views

Does a Ger have a Chiyuv to get an Aliya?

Inspired by the comments to my answer about (pseudo) 2nd Bar Mitzvahs. Both the Magen Avraham in 282:18 and the Biur Halocho in 136:1:1 mention that the reason a Bar Mitzva boy has a high priority to ...
Danny Schoemann's user avatar
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Does Torah reading need to be repeated if you said it with an "assumed" minyan?

I'm not good with the title for this scenario: Suppose that there where 10 men in the shul - 9 everyone knew, and the 10th no one knew. He wore a yarmulka, so everyone assumed that he was Jewish. ...
DanF's user avatar
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6 votes
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Why do we call people up to the Torah by name?

In shul, if a guest is honored with an aliyah, I watch as the gabbai walks over (or sends someone) to get the guest's name, then call that same person up by that name. Once the guest has been told ...
rosends's user avatar
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5 votes
8 answers
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what to throw at a bridegroom

Any suggestions as to what should be thrown at someone when he gets an aliya on the Shabas before his wedding? Suggestions should take into account any considerations deemed appropriate (and adding to ...
5 votes
6 answers
979 views

Is B'rich Shmei said while the Torah sits in the Aron, or as it's held (by whom?)

Sing "vayhi binsoa" as the Aron is opened by -- let's call him Mr. Opener Brich Shmei is said Chazan is now holding Torah scroll and says Shema (or Gadlu). I've seen different things happen for Brich ...
Shalom's user avatar
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1 answer
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What did it use to mean for a kohen to get a second aliyah?

If there is no levi present in the synagogue, the second aliyah is given to the kohen who received the first aliyah. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 135:8) Now, originally only the first and last olim ...
Joel K's user avatar
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What is to be done with a Sefer Torah written by an apikoreis, or by a soffer of unknown apikoreis-status?

What is to be done with a Sefer Torah written by an apikoreis, or by a soffer of unknown apikoreis-status (whether it be a question of the status of the soffer who wrote it, or if it is unknown who ...
C.K.'s user avatar
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3 answers
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Aufruf and Shabbat Chatan?

Why is an aufruf (Askenazim) before and a shabbat chatan (sefardim) after the wedding? I know there is an idea of a chaasan going to shul from the Pirkei d'Reb Eliezer 17 but how did it get split ...
sam's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
372 views

3 kugels for 3 sifrei Torah?

When I was younger (yes, that did happen to me - ONCE :-) the Rav from the shul I attended would include a suggestion whenever there was a Shabbat where we use 3 Sifrei Torah, such as will occur this ...
DanF's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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When you do Hagba - do you say V'Zos HaTorah?

If you are the one who is doing Hagba - lifting up the Sefer Torah after Leining - (the Minhag is to point or to bow at the Torah when you say V'Zos HaTorah and it is impossible for the one doing ...
Gershon Gold's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
312 views

Which tefilot you say when your minhag differs from that of the shoul your praying in?

Here is the case: This past Sabbath, at an ashkanazi synagogue, a sephardi comes to pray. This is the synagogue that he normally attends (there are about 20 within 1 sq mile). He prays with the ...
wizlog's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
160 views

Splitting up the rosh chodesh reading when another follows it

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 684:3 says (in my own translation): If rosh chodesh Teves comes out on Shabas, we remove three Torah scrolls, and six people read in the weekly section and one in that ...
msh210's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
82 views

Why this specific pasuk when returning the Torah to the Ahron?

Why was " Yehallulu es shaym hashem ..." specifically chosen to be said when we put the Torah back in the Ahron? And why does the shliach tzibur not complete the whole pasuk as is generally ...
Zev's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
394 views

Why is there no Kaddish after Torah reading at mincha on a fast day?

Every Torah reading is followed by half Kaddish, except for Shabbat and fast day mincha. Mishnah Berurah #4 on O.C. 292:1 says that on Shabbat and fast days we don't say Kaddish after Torah reading ...
DanF's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can someone called for one of the Shabbat or Yom Tov aliyot be called again for maftir?

I think the title of the question is self-explanatory.Something to consider: Maftir seems to be separate from the other aliyot specified in Talmud Megilah. Would it matter if the person who had ...
DanF's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
148 views

What is the origin and meaning of the prayer “Koh Kaili” said before Musaf on Chagim?

The prayer “Koh Kaili” is said by some before the “Ashrei” before Musaf on Sholosh Regolim. 1) What is the origin and meaning of the prayer? 2) In the “chorus” what are the “miluim”? Are they the ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
378 views

Order of names in a meshabarach after an aliyah

Is there any specific order in the list of names in a meshabarach after an aliyah? For instance, does my wife get listed first,or my parents? Do Grandkids get listed after their parents or only after ...
Ken's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
107 views

Ein Kamocha on Shabbat

Before the Ark is opened on Shabbat, we don't just say "veyahi b'n'so'a ha'aron" as we would on a weekday. We begin with Ein Kamocha. The Artscroll siddur (I don't have the page number handy) explains ...
rosends's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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Should women kiss the Torah with their hand or with a prayer book?

When the Torah comes around in shul, is it preferable for women to touch it with their hand (and then kiss their hand) or with their prayer book (and then kiss their prayer book)? Presumably some ...
SAH's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
173 views

Can a congregant who has been asked to open the Ark, walk in front of the Ark to get to the other side of the 'bimah'?

Can a congregant who opened the Aron Hakodesh walk in front of the open ark and walk to the other side of the platform where the Aron is situated?
yehoshua's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
342 views

At which point during the Torah reading on Shabbat is it appropriate to recite the prayer for the sick (מי שברך לחולים)?

Is there a correct or preferred point (aliyah) during the Shabbat Torah reading at which the traditional "mi shebeirach lecholim" prayer for the sick should be recited by the gabbai? If such ...
LawrenceN's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
202 views

Why say amen to b'rich shmei before taking out the Torah on Shabbat?

Usually we do not say amen to our own bracha. So why do we sing amen before taking out the Torah on Shabbat? (Bei ana rachetz... Amen) The amen is even printed in the siddur (Art Scroll).
Yehuda W's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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Young boys returning Chumashim after Torah reading

I often see young boys going around shul after the Shabbos/Yom Tov morning Torah reading to collect Chumashim and return them to their shelves. Is this an actual 'minhag' with a history behind it? If ...
Yaakov Kuperman's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
57 views

Grammar and word choice of the Mi Shebeirach for Yom Tov

On Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, the phrase "ויזכה לעלות לרגל" - "he should merit to go up [to the Beit Hamikdash]" is added to the end of the Mi Shebeirach after each aliyah. I've ...
Moshe Katz's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
90 views

Can a ventriloquist chant the Torah?

A ventriloquist essentially recreates sounds using a different part of the speech system. For example, mouthing the sound ‘B’ would give away the act, so it must be recreated in a different part of ...
Dr. Shmuel's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
97 views

Non-Jewish father: son of whom for an aliyah? [duplicate]

Let's say there is a person born of Jewish mother, but not a Jewish father. To further complicate things, the mother was raised secular and at a later point converts to Christianity. Does her change ...
Aaron's user avatar
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5 votes
0 answers
89 views

Repeated Hagbah by the same individual

From this question, it's clear that there is a halachic requirement to do a "good" hagbah. This one emphasizes that, by saying that a gabbai who knows the individual can't do a good job shouldn't ...
Bobson's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
204 views

What appropriate amount of tzedakah for mi sheberech?

What is considered to be appropriate amount to give for mi shebereh asking for a blessing for an individual ill person?
Andrei Lopatenko's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
322 views

Standing up for Hagbah

Why do we do Hagbah, and does the congregation have to stand for Hagbah?
cookie monster's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
202 views

Can someone who takes out the Torah also get an Aliyah?

Can someone who gets the honor of taking out the Sefer Torah also get an Aliyah? I ask because perhaps there is an idea that someone should only get one Kavod by Sefer Torah.
Bochur613's user avatar
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