Hagbah and Gelila: Difference between revisions

*<p class="indent">After the Torah is read,<ref>Most congregations perform hagba after the Torah has been read. In some congregations it is done before the Torah is read. There are also congregations that perform hagba both before and after the Torah reading. See Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:1, 2.</ref> it is lifted for everyone in the congregation to see, a ritual known as hagba. When the Torah is lifted one should make an effort to see the letters of the scroll, to bow slightly, and to say the verse v’zot haTorah.”<ref>OC 134:2.</ref> It is said that a great light shines upon a person who makes an effort to read some of the words from the Torah scroll when hagba is performed.<ref>Mishna Berura 134:11. For much more on hagba see my Amot shel Halacha: Halachich Insights (Jerusalem: Urim, 2009).</ref> </p>

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<p class="indent">Those honored with hagba and gelila on weekdays should first remove their tefillin straps from their hands. This is both for comfort as well as to avoid having an interposition between one’s hands and the Torah. It is also intended to show reverence for the tefillin straps.<ref>Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:7.</ref> There are a number of customs as to where the Torah’s belt should be positioned. Some place it on the upper third of the scroll,<ref>Beit Avi 4:15:6.</ref> others on the lower third,<ref>Minhag Chabad.</ref> and some position it right in the center of the scroll. There is no halachic preference.<ref>Maharshag 2:4:2; Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:8. See Chikrei Minhagim (Gurary ), vol. 1, pp. 83–86, and Otzar Teshuva 95 for more on this issue.</ref>  

</p><p class="indent">The Torah is closed by rolling together the atzei chaim, the handles. One should be sure to position the right eitz chaim above the left one.<ref>Yesodei Yeshurun, vol. 2, p. 257; See Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:13 for much more on this issue.</ref> If there is a need to maneuver or adjust the parchment of the Torah scroll one should not do so with his bare hands. Rather, one should touch the scroll with the assistance of a tallit or other cloth in order that one’s hands do not directly touch the parchment.<ref>Mishna Berura 147:2.</ref> All other scrolls, however, such as a Megillat Esther, may be touched directly with one’s hands as long as they are clean.<ref>Rama, OC 147:1; Biur Halacha 147, s.v. “V’tov.”</ref>

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!Torah Types

!Process

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|Ashkenazi / Sephardi Torah Scroll (Atzei Chayim)

|The entire scroll is lifted during hagba.

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|Yemeni Torah (Cylindrical Carrier)

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Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; as he opened it, all the people stood up.

==References==

===Sources===

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[[Category:Prayer|Orach Chaim]]