{"id":6458,"date":"2010-01-22T05:00:10","date_gmt":"2010-01-22T03:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=6458"},"modified":"2018-05-24T12:12:21","modified_gmt":"2018-05-24T09:12:21","slug":"02-22-05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/02-22-05\/","title":{"rendered":"05 – The Torah Reader"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Torah is read with cantillation signs, that is, in a melody which suits the meaning of the words being read. Since the cantillation signs are not written in the Torah scroll, the reader must learn the signs that accompany the reading by heart. If there is no one present who learned the particular portion with cantillation signs, another person may look into a printed Chumash<\/i> with the signs and whisper them to the reader, so that he can read from the Torah with the proper melody (Mishnah Berurah<\/i> 142:8). If no one is able to read the Torah with cantillation signs, it is permissible b\u2019dieved<\/i> to fulfill the obligation of Torah reading without them (Shulchan Aruch<\/i> 142:2).<\/p>\n
It is necessary to be meticulous in the reading of the Torah. If the reader errs in reading a word, such that the meaning of that word is changed, he must repeat it properly. However, for a mistake which does not alter the meaning of the words, there is no need to repeat the reading.[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Initially, it was customary that each person called up to the Torah would personally read his portion. For that purpose, everyone would prepare the whole weekly portion of the Torah reading. Alternatively, the gabbai<\/i> would plan in advance the order of the people to be called up and notify each of them, so they could prepare their portions ahead of time. Yemenite Jews still do this nowadays.<\/p>\n However, from the time of the Rishonim<\/i>, the majority of congregations became accustomed to appoint a Torah reader (ba\u2019al koreh<\/i>) who would read the Torah for everyone. The one called up recites a blessing on the reading before and after it, and the ba\u2019al koreh <\/i>reads the Torah for him. This way, people who do not know how to read the Torah are not embarrassed (Ran<\/i>). This also avoids the possibility that people who erroneously think that they know how to read properly will be insulted if the gabbai<\/i> does not call them up (Rosh<\/i>). (See Shulchan Aruch<\/i> 139:1-2; Peninei Halachah Likutim<\/i> I, 4:6.)<\/p>\n