The Chachamim<\/i> established that the Torah scroll be lifted and its letters displayed to the whole congregation. The original minhag<\/i> was to lift the Torah before the reading (Masechet Sofrim<\/i> 14:13-14), which is the custom of Sephardim<\/i> and a few Ashkenazim<\/i>, as well as that of the Ari<\/i>. Most Ashkenazim<\/i> follow the custom of lifting the Torah after the reading, so that everyone will know that the essential objective is to hear the words being read. After the reading, the Torah is displayed to the nation (Shulchan Aruch<\/i> 134:2; Mishnah Berurah<\/i> 8; Kaf HaChaim<\/i> 17; Piskei Teshuvot<\/i> 9).<\/p>\n
The lifting (hagbahah<\/i>) is so important, the Chachamim<\/i> say (Megillah<\/i> 32a) that the golel<\/i>, referring to the person who lifts the Torah, receives a reward equivalent to all those called up to the Torah. Therefore, it is proper to give the honor of hagbahah<\/i> to one of the distinguished people in the community. Today, it is customary to honor even ordinary congregants with hagbahah<\/i>, although the more correct minhag<\/i> is to give the honor of hagbahah<\/i> to a respected person of the community. In any case, great care should be taken not to give the honor of hagbahah<\/i> to someone who may drop the Torah scroll.<\/p>\n
L’chatchilah<\/i>, at the time of hagbahah<\/i> it is necessary for the Torah scroll to be held open at the place it was read, though if it was not, it is not necessary to lift it again (see Piskei Teshuvot<\/i> 134:4). Regarding an Ashkenazic Torah scroll, the one who is lifting it must open the Torah so that it is possible to see three columns (Mishnah Berurah<\/i> 134:8).<\/p>\n
Some lift the Torah and turn it only slightly to the left and slightly to the right, and many people from the congregation standing in front of the bimah<\/i> cannot see the writing. The person doing hagbahah<\/i> must make sure that all the people praying can see the letters of the Torah. It is best if he slowly turns in a full circle, thereby enabling everyone to see (see Piskei Teshuvot <\/i>134:5).<\/p>\n
It is a mitzvah for all the men and women who see the writing to bow and say \u201cV\u2019Zot HaTorah<\/i>\u2026\u201d (Masechet Sofrim<\/i> 14:14; Shulchan Aruch<\/i> 134:2). Many Ashkenazim<\/i> are not accustomed to bow, and some poskim<\/i> lend credence to that; however l’chatchilah<\/i>, it is proper to bow when seeing the writing (Har Tzvi<\/i>, Orach Chaim<\/i> 1:64).<\/p>\n
There are those who are accustomed to point to the Torah with their pinky while saying \u201cV\u2019Zot HaTorah<\/i>\u2026\u201d and then kiss their finger. Some also hold their tzitzit<\/i> and point to the Torah scroll with it, and afterwards kiss the tzitzit<\/i>.<\/p>\n
The Geonim<\/i> introduced the recital of Half-Kaddish<\/i> after the conclusion of the Torah reading, just as it is customary to recite Kaddish<\/i> after verses of scripture (Piskei Teshuvot<\/i> 147:9). So as not to interrupt excessively between the Amidah<\/i> and the Kaddish-Titkabal<\/i> after U\u2019va L\u2019Tzion<\/i>, only Half-Kaddish<\/i> is recited.<\/p>\n
The Ashkenazim<\/i> are accustomed to say \u201cYehi Ratzon<\/i>\u201d while the Torah is being rolled and covered, except on days that Tachanun<\/i> is not recited (see Piskei Teshuvot<\/i> 147:7).<\/p>\n
According to the Ashkenazic minhag<\/i> and the custom of some Sephardim<\/i>, the Torah scroll is returned to the ark after the Torah reading and before the recital of Ashrei<\/i>. The Chassidic minhag<\/i> and the custom of most Sephardim<\/i> is to return the Torah to the ark after U\u2019Va L\u2019Tzion<\/i> and Kaddish Titkabal<\/i>.<\/p>\n
It is customary to recite verses of scripture while escorting the Torah scroll and returning it to the ark.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Chachamim established that the Torah scroll be lifted and its letters displayed to the whole congregation. The original minhag was to lift the Torah before the reading (Masechet Sofrim 14:13-14), which is the custom of Sephardim and a few Ashkenazim, as well as that of the Ari. Most Ashkenazim follow the custom of lifting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-22-several-laws-of-torah-reading"],"yoast_head":"\n