Hagbah and Gelila: Difference between revisions
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<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 class="indent">Hagba is the ritual lifting of the Sefer Torah to show it to the community. Gelilah is the ritual rolling and dressing of the Sefer Torah and is an accompanying ritual to Hagba. | ||
</p><p class="indent">The honor of dressing the Torah, referred to as gelila, is considered to be of equal value to all the aliyot combined.<ref>Megilla 32a. See Orchot Rabbeinu III, p. 216.</ref> Although the honor of gelila should actually be given to one of the more prominent members of the congregation,<ref>OC 147:1.</ref> many have the custom to award gelila to a child. This is done in order to expose the children of the congregation to “hands-on” mitzvot and to make them feel an integral part of the congregation.<ref>Mishna Berura 147:7.</ref> While some authorities frown on the practice of awarding gelila to a child, there are even stronger grounds to allow doing so in congregations (such as in Chabad) where the Torah is first placed on the shulchan before performing gelila.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan, OC 147:9. See also Bnei Tzion 147:1.</ref> | </p> | ||
* <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> | |||
== Description == | |||
<p class="indent">The honor of dressing the Torah, referred to as gelila, is considered to be of equal value to all the aliyot combined.<ref>Megilla 32a. See Orchot Rabbeinu III, p. 216.</ref> Although the honor of gelila should actually be given to one of the more prominent members of the congregation,<ref>OC 147:1.</ref> many have the custom to award gelila to a child. This is done in order to expose the children of the congregation to “hands-on” mitzvot and to make them feel an integral part of the congregation.<ref>Mishna Berura 147:7.</ref> While some authorities frown on the practice of awarding gelila to a child, there are even stronger grounds to allow doing so in congregations (such as in Chabad) where the Torah is first placed on the shulchan before performing gelila.<ref>Aruch Hashulchan, OC 147:9. See also Bnei Tzion 147:1.</ref> | |||
</p><p class="indent">In some communities there is an additional honor that is awarded along with gelila: that of placing the ornamental crown upon the Torah when the gelila is completed. In most congregations, however, the one honored with gelila places the crown, breastplate, and all other decorative ornaments upon the Torah, as well.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Ha’Arizal, Nefilat Apayim, cited in Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:1.</ref> There is no problem with using a Torah crown on Shabbat that has bells attached to it, since the purpose of the bells is not for music but rather merely in order to “announce” the movement of the Torah.<ref>Beit Yosef, OC 282; Magen Avraham, OC 338:1, Aruch Hashulchan, OC 338:3; Noda B’Yehuda, YD 62. For a stringent ruling see Taz, YD 282:2.</ref> One should never leave the synagogue sanctuary until hagba and gelila have been completed.<ref>Elya Rabba, OC 147; Aruch Hashulchan, OC 147:6, 15.</ref> | </p><p class="indent">In some communities there is an additional honor that is awarded along with gelila: that of placing the ornamental crown upon the Torah when the gelila is completed. In most congregations, however, the one honored with gelila places the crown, breastplate, and all other decorative ornaments upon the Torah, as well.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Ha’Arizal, Nefilat Apayim, cited in Rivevot V’yovlot 3:2:1.</ref> There is no problem with using a Torah crown on Shabbat that has bells attached to it, since the purpose of the bells is not for music but rather merely in order to “announce” the movement of the Torah.<ref>Beit Yosef, OC 282; Magen Avraham, OC 338:1, Aruch Hashulchan, OC 338:3; Noda B’Yehuda, YD 62. For a stringent ruling see Taz, YD 282:2.</ref> One should never leave the synagogue sanctuary until hagba and gelila have been completed.<ref>Elya Rabba, OC 147; Aruch Hashulchan, OC 147:6, 15.</ref> | ||
</p><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> | ||
== Ritual Instuctions == | |||
<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> | </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> | ||
</p><p class="indent">It is best that a father and son or two brothers not be awarded hagba and gelila together, just as they should not be awarded any two aliyot in succession.<ref>Mishneh Halachot 3:20.</ref> However, if necessary, it is permitted to do so in a congregation where those honored with hagba and gelila are not called up by name.<ref>Avnei Chefetz 16; Rivevot Ephraim 3:2:16.</ref> It is permitted to forgo hagba in a situation where there is a concern that the Torah might drop, such as when on a bus, plane, or train, or if the Torah is exceptionally heavy. In such a situation the Torah should simply be wrapped up and dressed immediately following the reading.<ref>Birkei Yosef (Shiyurei Bracha), OC 134; Yesodei Yeshurun, vol. 2, p. 255; Rivevot Ephraim 3:2:9.</ref> It is interesting to note that there were communities in the past where hagba was never performed.<ref>Birkei Yosef, OC 134.</ref> Every congregation should ensure that the Torah wrappings and ornaments are especially clean and dignified. One should not use such accessories if they are ripped or stained.<ref>Rema, OC 147:1.</ref> | </p><p class="indent">It is best that a father and son or two brothers not be awarded hagba and gelila together, just as they should not be awarded any two aliyot in succession.<ref>Mishneh Halachot 3:20.</ref> However, if necessary, it is permitted to do so in a congregation where those honored with hagba and gelila are not called up by name.<ref>Avnei Chefetz 16; Rivevot Ephraim 3:2:16.</ref> It is permitted to forgo hagba in a situation where there is a concern that the Torah might drop, such as when on a bus, plane, or train, or if the Torah is exceptionally heavy. In such a situation the Torah should simply be wrapped up and dressed immediately following the reading.<ref>Birkei Yosef (Shiyurei Bracha), OC 134; Yesodei Yeshurun, vol. 2, p. 255; Rivevot Ephraim 3:2:9.</ref> It is interesting to note that there were communities in the past where hagba was never performed.<ref>Birkei Yosef, OC 134.</ref> Every congregation should ensure that the Torah wrappings and ornaments are especially clean and dignified. One should not use such accessories if they are ripped or stained.<ref>Rema, OC 147:1.</ref> | ||
