Q & A
ABOUT DAVENING
Does it matter who opens the Torah scroll for Kriyas HaTorah?
- The Gemara (Sotah 39a) states that once the Torah scroll is opened it is forbidden
to speak. - This is derived from a verse in Sefer Nehemiah (8:5) “And when it (the Torah scroll)
was opened the entire nation stopped”. - From here we see that the mitzvah of kriyas HaTorah begins with the opening of the
Torah scroll, not when the brachos are recited. - Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt”l pointed out, that since the opening of the Torah is
the beginning of kriyas HaTorah, it must be opened by the one who will say the brachos. - It is incorrect for the Ba'al Korei to open the Torah. He must wait for the oleh to open
the Torah & then point to the beginning of the aliyah. - After rolling the Torah open, some have the custom to roll the Torah closed before
reciting the brachos
- While others have the custom to leave the Torah open during the brachos, but to turn
one’s head to the left, away from the Torah, so as not to give the impression that one is
reading the brachos from the Torah. - The Mishnah Berurah (Beiur Halacha OC 139:v’roeh) writes that both customs are legitimate.
- The aliyah ends when the Torah is rolled shut.
- If after closing the Torah one realizes that they ended the aliyah too early, they may not continue reading until a new birchas HaTorah is recited.
If I only had time to either daven or listen
to the reading of the Torah which takes precedence?
- This question would seemingly depend on the exact nature of the obligation of reading
the Torah (Kriyas HaTorah). - Is reading of the Torah an obligation on the individuals or on the congregation?
- Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, zt"l relates that his grandfather, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, zt"l was more meticulous to hear reading of the Torah (Kriyas Ha Torah) then he was to
pray with the congregation (daven b'tzibur). Rav Chaim held that in addition to the
obligation of the on each individual to hear the reading of the Torah (Kriyas HaTorah).
Although praying with the congregation (Tefila B'zibur) is important, it is not on the same
level as an obligation. - Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik relates that his other grandfather Reb Elye Pruzhaner,
Zt"l disagreed.He held that reading of the Torah (Kriyas HaTorah) is only an obligation
on the congregation (Tzibur). According to this view, it is more incumbent for the
individual to daven with the congregation (b'tzibur) than to hear the reading of the Torah
(Kriyas Ha Torah).
Copyright © 2012 -2018 KosherWoman.com
All rights reserved
