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We have only 2 Sifrei Torah available instead of 3 for Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Parshat Hachodesh. The first Torah is already rolled to the correct weekly parsha (let's assume it's this year, so it's at Vayikra).

I am going to make a general assumption that we want to do as little Tircha D'Tzibbur ("congregational burdening") as possible, so we want to roll the Torah as little as we can. This is what I shall use in each of these scenarios. If my assumption is incorrect, please indicate what to do and why.

  1. 2nd Torah rolled to Pinchas for Rosh Hodesh. Do Hagbah on 1st, use 2nd for Rosh Hodesh, Kaddish - do Hagbah on 2nd, re-use 1st and roll back to parshat Bo; do Hagbah again on the 1st.
  2. 2nd Torah rolled to Bo (for Hachodesh). Roll 1st Torah to Pinchas, read for Rosh Hodesh - Kaddish, Hagbah on 1st; read from 2nd, Hagbah.
  3. 2nd Torah rolled to parshat R'eh (it hasn't been used since Shmini Atzeret. It's about the same distance from R'eh to Pinchas as it is from Trumah to Pinchas). Hagbah on 1st. Roll 2nd to Pinchas - Kaddish; Hagbah; Re-use 1st, roll to Bo; Hagbah again on 1st.

In answering this question, you may want to refer to this related M.Y. question

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  • I was under the impression that a third Torah should be used in such a case. Commented Feb 11, 2015 at 15:02
  • @Noach They dont have a third one
    – Double AA
    Commented Feb 11, 2015 at 15:09
  • @DoubleAA, I read it as "we have allotted", rather than "we possess". As such, my assumption was for the former. Commented Feb 11, 2015 at 15:10
  • 1
    Question 4: How should we roll the s'farim before Shabas?
    – msh210
    Commented Feb 13, 2015 at 5:45
  • 1
    @msh210 - See the answer below. It seems quite obvious to me what to do.
    – DanF
    Commented Feb 13, 2015 at 14:33

1 Answer 1

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The Rama to Orach Chaim, 669:1 says to use one Sefer Torah for the first and third readings, and the other Sefer Torah for the second reading.

במקום שאין להם רק שני ספרי תורה, קורין בראשונה "וזאת הברכה", ובשנייה "בראשית", וחוזרים ולוקחים הראשונה לעניינו של יום; וכן עושין כל מקום דבעינן שלושה ספרי תורה, ואין להם רק שתיים

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  • But what if it wasn't rolled right and it would be quicker to do 112?
    – Double AA
    Commented Feb 11, 2015 at 21:14
  • @DoubleAA - I agree. I assumed that avoiding Tircha D'Tzibbur was the biggest concern in these situations, which is why we aim for 3 Sifrei Torah, in the 1st place - We don't want ANY delay, ideally. I don't quite understand Rama's thinking on this one, esp. to suggest this method in ALL situations. Tzarich Iyun.
    – DanF
    Commented Feb 13, 2015 at 14:38

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