Torah Blessing
Mazal tov! You have been invited to participate in an Aliyah (being called to the bima to bless the Torah). The blessing appears below and you can hear it chanted by using the accompanying audio players.
Following is a brief guide:
- When your name is called from the bima by Rabbi or Cantor, walk up to the bima.
- If you are wearing a tallit (prayer shawl), it will be traditional for the Rabbi or Torah reader to point to the word on the scroll where he or she will begin reading. You would take the tzitzit (fringes) from a corner of the prayer shawl and touch them to the word; you may then bring the tzitzit to your lips as an expression of your love for the Torah. In a group Aliyah, one person may perform this ritual on behalf of the group. Also, there is a tradition derived from the text, "It is a Tree of Life to all who hold fast to it...," where the person called to bless the Torah holds onto one of the eitz chayim (the wood roller of the Torah).Ê If there is more than one person participating in the Aliyah, one person would perform this ritual on behalf of the couple or group.
- Chant the "Blessing Before the Reading of the Torah" (see below).
- The Torah reader will chant the portion.
- At its conclusion, the Rabbi or Torah reader will point to the final word that was read. Again, it is traditional to touch it with the tzitzit as noted above.
- Chant the "Blessing After the Reading" (see below or download a PDF).
(Feel free to bring your copy of the Blessing text to the bima; a large copy in Hebrew and transliteration will be on the pulpit. It is not customary to recite the blessing in English once the Hebrew has been chanted, unless specifically asked to do so.)
- Return to your seat.
- Yasher koach! (Good job!)
Download a PDF of the Torah Blessing
|
