Kriyat HaTorah

From Halachipedia

Taking out the Sefer Torah

  1. One should be careful to not touch the parchment of the Sefer Torah. [1] However, some say that one only needs to be careful to not touch the parchment of a Sefer Torah while it is being read from or between readings. [2]

Talking during Kriyat HaTorah

  1. From the time the Sefer Torah is opened to make the Brachot HaTorah it’s forbidden to speak at all even words of Torah. Giving a halachic ruling is forbidden unless it’s in order to prevent someone from doing a prohibition and it’s impossible to signal to him. [3]
  2. Someone who speaks during Kriyat HaTorah is culpable for serious transgressions including disgracing Torah by ignoring listening to Torah, making a Chilul Hashem, potentially Lashon Hara, Rechilut or other forbidden speech, speaking mundane words in a shul and the punishments include having one’s Tefillah discarded and a trangession that’s too great to bear. [4]
  3. Even between Aliya’s it’s forbidden to talk but it’s permissible to learn Shenayim Mikra VeEchad Targum and some permit learn other things, yet others emphasize not to learn with someone else between Aliya’s because it may continue into Kriyat HaTorah. [5]
  4. It is forbidden to talk during the haftara as well. [6]

Learning during Kriyat HaTorah

  1. If one already heard Kriyat HaTorah (or one will hear another minyan), there’s 10 others who are listening to Kriyat HaTorah, if he was sitting on the side (showing he already heard Kriyat HaTorah) learning from before the Sefer Torah was open it’s permissible to learn quietly. [7]
  2. Some say it’s proper to read along with the Baal Koreh word by word in order to listen better and have inten, while others say that one should be quiet and listen intently. [8]

Repeating Aliyot

  1. One shouldn't repeat pesukim one just read for one aliyah for another aliyah, rather one should read new pesukim or add on new pesukim.[9]
  2. Even those who are lenient to allow repeating pesukim for an aliyah can't consider it to be one of the seven aliyot of Shabbat.[10]

Listening to the Kriyat HaTorah

  1. Even if the baal koreh pronounces the words in another dialect than one usually uses, such as an Ashekanzi listening to a Sephardi baal koreh, one fulfills one's obligation. The only times for which one should be strict to hear the Kriyat Hatorah from someone who uses the same pronunciation as oneself is Parshat Zachor and Parshat Parah. [11]

Order of the Aliyot

  1. There's is a mitzvah to give the Cohen the first Aliyah and the honor of doing Zimmun.[12] Similarly, it is forbidden to use a Cohen for a personal task, however, if the Cohen foregoes on his honor, it is permitted.[13]
  2. If there's no Levi and there is a Kohen in Shul, the Kohen who got the first Aliyah should also get the second Aliyah. [14]
  3. The following is the order of those who should get an Aliyah:
    1. A groom on the day of his wedding,
    2. a groom who is getting married for the first time, the Shabbat before his wedding,
    3. a bar mitzvah boy on the Shabbat after his bar mitzvah
    4. a sandak who holds the baby for the Milah
    5. a sandak who carries baby in for the Milah
    6. husband of a woman who gave birth to a girl if the mother comes to shul
    7. husband of a woman who gave birth to a boy if the mother comes to shul
    8. groom on the Shabbat after his wedding if the wedding was on Wednesday or later in the week, assuming that either the groom or bride was getting married for the first time
    9. a person with Yahrzeit for a parent on that day
    10. a father of a boy who is going to have a Milah that day
    11. a person with a Yahrzeit in the coming week
    12. a mohel who performed a Milah that day
    13. a sandak on the Shabbat before the Milah
    14. a father of a boy on the Shabbat before the Milah
    15. a mohel of a baby on the Shabbat before the Milah[15]
  4. If there is a double parsha, the gabbai should ensure that the parshiyot are connected with the fourth Aliyah.[16]

Standing for Kriyat HaTorah

  1. It’s permissible to sit during Kriyat HaTorah[17] and such is the minhag. Some are strict to stand during Kriyat HaTorah (so as to hear it as if one is receiving it from Har Sinai when Bnei Yisrael were standing).[18] Nonetheless, one who has difficulty standing and therefore cannot focus on the leining should sit.[19]
  2. During Barchu and Baruch HaMiverech LeOlam VeEd one should stand.[20] However, many don’t stand and the minhag has what to rely on. [21]
  3. One may not stand in a shul where the local rabbi sits because of acting arrogantly (Yuhara). [22]

Standing for Aseret Hadibrot

  1. Some have the custom to stand for the Aseret Hadibrot.[23]This is the prevalent Ashkenazic custom[24] However, the Sephardic minhag is not to stand for Aseret HaDibdrot. see however R’ Elyashiv (in his shiurim on Berachot 12a) writes the Rambam is truly correct that one should not stand.[25]
  2. If one typically stands for the reading of the Torah throughout the rest of the year, there is certainly no issue standing during the reading of the aseret hadibrot.[26]
  3. Some hold that in a shul where many are standing one should nonetheless remain seated so as to teach others the proper practice.[27] Nonetheless, others argue that one should join the practice of others around him and stand even if it is typically his custom to sit.[28] Some suggest that, in this scenario, he should stand from the beginning of the parsha or at least from the beginning of the aliya so as not to give off the impression that the psukim of the aseret hadibrot are more important than the rest of the Torah.[29]

Procedure When Going up to the Torah

Reading Along with the Baal Koreh

  1. The one who goes up to the torah should read along with the baal koreh quietly. [30]

The Proper Way to Hold the Sefer Torah When Receiving an Aliya

  1. When one is called to the Torah for an Aliya, he should hold onto the Sefer Torah while reciting the Beracha. see note for proper procedure[31]
  2. It is forbidden to hold onto to the parchment of the sefer torah without an intervening cloth, whether one is involved with rolling the sefer torah during kriyat hatorah or any other time.[32]

Laws for the Baal Koreh (the Reader)

Amen

  1. Although usually one may not respond Amen louder than the blessing to which one is responding, the person reading the torah may say Amen in a loud voice. This is acceptable because we want to alert the congregation that the reading is beginning. [33]

Mistake While Reading

  1. On Shabbat, if the one who read the Torah missed a word or pasuk, one needs to repeat that pasuk. Even if the Sefer Torah was already returned to the aron, one should take out the torah and read from the beginning of that pasuk and two other pesukim as well.[34]

Haftorah

  1. One may not speak when the maftir is reading the Haftorah.[35]
  2. One does not answer amen after the words Neemarim BeEmet but only after VeTzedek.[36]
  3. Only the maftir should read the Haftorah aloud and the rest of the congregation should read along quietly. If they read along loudly it could distract other people and also might make them miss listening to the Brachot of the Haftorah. If one is still in the middle of the Haftorah and the Maftir finished the Haftorah, one should pause and listen to the Brachot.[37]
  4. If it is a double parsha, the Haftorah comes from the second parsha.[38]
  5. At the end of the closing Brachot of the Haftarah, a Sepharadi Chazzan should answer Amen to his own Bracha.[39]

Links

Sources

  1. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 23:4
  2. ↑ BI"H S"S Toledot 18
  3. ↑ S”A 146:2, Mishna Brurah 146:4,5
  4. ↑ Beiur Halacha 146 s.v. VeHaNachon
  5. ↑ Mishna Brurah 146:6, 15
  6. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:4
  7. ↑ S”A 146:2, Piskei Teshuvot 146:4
  8. ↑ Mishna Brurah 146:15 quoting Magen Avraham says to read along with Baal Koreh, while Kitzur S”A 24:3 and Piskei Teshuvot 146:5 say that it’s better to listen quietly.
  9. ↑ Rama 282:2 writes that it is forbidden to repeat pesukim for one aliyah that one just read for another aliyah. Mishna Brurah 282:10 and Aruch HaShulchan 282:8 confirm this position as well. Although Shulchan Aruch 282:2 permits, the Kaf HaChaim 282:19 writes that one shouldn't do so, though a community which has such a practice has what to rely upon.
  10. ↑ Shulchan Aruch 137:6, Mishna Brurah 282:9, Aruch HaShulchan 282:8
  11. ↑ Yalkut Yosef 282:15
  12. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 144:8
  13. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 144:9
  14. ↑ Shulchan Aruch 135:8
  15. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 78:11. For more detailed lists see Magen Avraham 282:18 and Biur Halacha 136 s.v. Beshabbat.
  16. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 78:3
  17. ↑ S.A 146:4
  18. ↑ Rama 146:4 cites that this was the practice of the Maharam. M.B 176:19 quotes the Bach who explains that even the Maharam agrees that, strictly speaking, standing is not required.
  19. ↑ M.B 146:19
  20. ↑ M.B 146:18 writes that according to everyone, one must stand at this point because this is a davar she’bekedusha
  21. ↑ Mishna Brurah 146:18-20, Piskei Teshuvot 146:6. See Ba'er Heitiv 146:5 who quotes Magen Avraham that one should stand for brachot hatorah and the Shaar HaTziyun 146:20 who disagrees. One would have thought it would be required to stand for the entire Torah reading just as we stand for any davar sh’be’kedusha (i.e. Kaddish, Barechu, and other parts of the service that require a minyan). However, Beit Hillel explain that since the Torah says regarding Kriat Shema “uvi’lechtecha va’derech” (Devarim 6:7), one may recite the Shema in any position (in Berachot 10a). By extension, Rav Soloveitchik thought that the same could be applied to any recital of psukim from the Torah and even during the berachot before the kriat ha’torah that one may listen in any position (Rav Schachter on yutorah.org “Inyonei Krias Hatorah” min. 56). Piskei Tshuvot 146:6 quotes from Rav Chayiim Vital who testifies about the Arizal that he would always sit during the leining and the Barechu preceding the leining.
  22. ↑ Rabbi Hershel Schachter in a shiur on yutorah.org "Inyonei Krias HaTorah" (min 55) based on Baba Kama 86b where it says that any talmid who observes a midat chasidut which his rebbi doesn’t observe in the presence of his rebbi deserves to be excommunicated. See also Yalkut Yosef 145:12
  23. ↑ The Rambam (Sh"t Harambam Siman 46) writes that we should prevent others from following the custom to stand because there is a concern that allowing people stand will lead to a lack of emuna in the sense that people might come to believe that the aseret hadibrot are more significant than the other psukim in the Torah.. The Chida writes that since we read the Torah every Shabbat we demonstrate that the entire Torah is true and we thus need not fear that people might begin to think that the 10 Dibrot are more significant than other psukim in the Torah. Additionally, Rav Hershel Schachter (The Aseres Hadibros) writes that the fact that we read the psukim differently (i.e. by stopping after each dibur as if there is a sof passuk) is an indication that we are attempting to reenact maamaad har sinai, thus perhaps also for this reason it would be permitted to stand.
  24. ↑ Sh"t Igrot Moshe OC 4:22. Siddur Beit Yaakov, Shaarei Ephraiim, and the Chida (all quoted in Dirshu M.B 494:3) had this custom. This custom is based on the idea that we strive to remember and even emulate the manner in which the aseret hadibrot were given at Har Sinai. Just as at Har Sinai the entire Jewish nation stood in awe and even trembled, so too, when we read the aseret hadibrot in shul many stand in an effort to re-experience Matan Torah.
  25. ↑ Yalkut Yosef 145-6:12 and 14, Shu"t Yechave Daat 1:29, Rav Chaim David Halevi in Shu"t Aseh Lecha Rav 6:21. Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daat 1:29 and Yalkut Yosef 145:12 writes that one should stop others from standing specifically for the aseret hadibrot. All the more so, if someone decides to stand in a place where there are many talmidei chachamim who know the halacha who are sitting, one should stop him, as the person standing will otherwise be perceived as haughty. Chacham Ovadia concludes that many poskim who permit standing simply lost the tshuva of the Rambam.
  26. ↑ The issue the Rambam posed is simply not relevant if one is standing during the leining all year as no one will come to think that certain psukim are more important than others. Also, see Rav Hershel Schachter (The Aseres Hadibros)
  27. ↑ R’ Elyashiv (in his shiurim on Berachot 12a) writes the Rambam is truly correct that one should not stand. Therefore even if everyone is standing, you should remain sitting because everyone else is acting incorrectly.
  28. ↑ Dirshu Mishna Brura 494:3 quotes Sh"t Dvar Shmuel and Avuhav 276 that in a place where everyone stands you should not stop this practice, because the intent is clear that people are trying to beautify their mitzvah performance as if they are going to greet the Shechina. Similarly, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach writes that since everyone knows that we are standing as a zecher le’maamad har sinai we should not stop people who stand. Since we also stand for other portions of the Torah such as Shirat Ha’yam we therefore need not be concerned.
    Rabbi Moshe Feinstein writes (O.C 4:22) that although logically it would seem to make sense to forbid people to stand, since on a practical level it has never happened that heretics have convinced Jews who are not knowledgeable that some psukim in the Torah are more important than others, we are therefore permitted to stand. Thus, if you are coming from a place where they never stood and you arrive at a place where everyone is standing you should join them.
  29. ↑ Yalkut Yosef (145:14) writes that an individual who is in a shul in which they stand and he does not have the ability to change the practice of the shul should ensure to stand from the beginning of the Torah reading or at the very least from the moment the person called up for the aliya of the aseret hadibrot lest he end up sitting amongst everyone else who is standing which will be perceived as a disgrace to the kedusha of the aseret hadibrot.
  30. ↑ Yechave Daat 4:11 based on Rosh Megilla 3:1 and 10, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 141:2
  31. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 139:11. Rabbi Yosef Chaim (Ben Ish Chai Parashat Toledot Halacha 18 elaborates on the details of how precisely one should hold the Torah. He writes that when one is called to the Torah, he should first look at the text and see the first verse that will be read. He should then cover the writing with a cloth, and the text should remain covered until after the Beracha. While reciting the Beracha, one should hold onto the Torah scroll, his right hand should hold onto the right scroll, and his left hand should hold the left scroll. One should hold the Torah itself, and not the casing. As it is improper to directly touch the parchment, one should hold the Torah with a cloth, such as his Tallit. After completing the Beracha, one should remove his left hand from the Torah but continue holding the Torah with his right hand. He should continue holding onto the Torah with his right hand throughout the reading of the Torah. The Ben Ish Hai notes that this procedure is based upon the teachings of the Arizal, as written in Sha’ar Ha’kavanot.
  32. ↑ Megillah 32a says that a person who holds the parchment of a sefer torah without a covering of his hands he doesn't receive reward for the mitzvah he did while holding onto the sefer torah. Chazon Ovadyah (Shabbat vol 2, p. 266) writes that its forbidden to hold onto the parchment during kriyat hatorah or at any other time.
  33. ↑ Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 1:106
  34. ↑ Shulchan Aruch 137:3, Mishna Brurah 137:8. Nishmat Adam 31:1 writes that one does not need to read the pesukim in order and if one is repeating for a missed one pasuk one doesn't need to continue to read everything afterwards in order.
  35. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:4
  36. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:3
  37. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:5
  38. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 79:6
  39. ↑ Yerushalmi Brachot Perek 7, quoted by Rif Brachot 33b and Rosh 7:11. Ritva Hilchot Brachot 6:5, Pekudat HaLeviim (Ra’ah) Brachot 45b, Birkeh Yosef OC 215:1, Yosef Ometz 68, Ben Ish Hai vol. 1 Masei Seif 14, Kaf HaChaim OC 215:1, Yechave Daat 2:23, Yabia Omer vol. 8 OC 25:10 and vol 9 OC 108:102, Ohr LeTzion vol. 2 page 134, Halichot Olam vol. 2 page 130, Birkat Hashem vol. 1 6:18. See Answering_Amen_to_Your_Own_Bracha
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