2

I've heard that while making the ברכה for his aliyah, the עולה should make it a point to not be looking at the ספר תורה but should be looking to the left. Where is the source for this?

Improve this question
5
  • 1
    How do you know it's true that there should be a source for it?
    – Double AA ♦
    Jul 13, 2014 at 16:03
  • I hadn't heard that the aliyah shouldn't be looking at the sefer torah. Is this (near-)universal practice (Ashkenazi, Sefardi, Teimani, Mizrachi, Chabad, ...)? It might help to say where you've observed this.
    – Monica Cellio
    Jul 13, 2014 at 16:24
  • @MonicaCellio is it enough that an answer responds to those questions, or should that be edited into the question as well?
    – הנער הזה
    Jul 13, 2014 at 17:31
  • 1
    @Matt ideally user6633 would say where he has seen this practice (or been told it's done), and if there is variation among communities answers could address that. If it turns out he's only asking why Ashkenazim (say) do this, there's no reason to require that answers address Teimanim too (though doing so is a bonus).
    – Monica Cellio
    Jul 13, 2014 at 17:36
  • @MonicaCellio meta.judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/2099/…
    – הנער הזה
    Jul 13, 2014 at 17:58

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
8

There is a concern that the congregation might come to think that the Brachos said before Torah reading are written in the Torah, but closing the Torah and then opening it would take extra time (see Megillah 31a). Therefore, the Rama (139:6) writes that it is best to turn one's head away from the Torah while making the Beracha. Once one is turning his head, it's better to turn to the left, which is the right of the Torah/"shekhina" which is opposite him.

However, the Mishnah Berura (there) notes that several poskim believe that it is disrespectful to turn one's face away from the Torah when he is standing in front of it, and he prefers the practice of closing one's eyes (despite the fact that it may be less obvious to the congregation that one isn't reading the Berachos from the Torah). Many Mizrahi communities have the custom to cover the Torah with a cloth while making the bracha, and this is the suggestion given by the Kaf Hahaim (139:23)

Improve this answer
3
  • 2
    Others do close and reopen it despite the concern you mention.
    – msh210 ♦
    Jul 14, 2014 at 6:33
  • @msh210 indeed, that is the minhag in Engelwood, NJ following the position of Rabbi Teitz
    – הנער הזה
    Jun 27, 2018 at 1:27
  • Covering with the tallit was the custom in Egypt.
    – Aaron
    Jun 28, 2018 at 0:33

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .