All About Aliyot laTorah, going up to the bimah (stage)

to bless the Torah reading

at Congregation Etz Chayim 1

What is an Aliyah: 2

GOING UP:   The honor of reciting the blessings over the Torah is called an aliyah, which means "going up" or "ascent" in Hebrew. It refers to the fact that the person so honored ascends or goes up to the bimah (platform) where the Torah is read. The word also connotes that participating in this ritual represents a spiritual ascent.

READER:   Originally, the prophet, king, or Priest read the entire weekly and holiday Torah portion. Later, the reading was divided among members of the congregation, and each person read his own portion. Since the reader "ascended" the bimah to recite the portion, the honor was called an aliyah.

ONE PERSON SAYING THE BLESSING?: In later centuries, when it was evident that many Jews were not knowledgeable enough to read their own Torah portion, a professional Torah reader was assigned to do the entire reading. The professional was called a baal koray, meaning "master of the reading," for he had mastered the musical notes and chant that had become traditional. From then on, those who received an aliyah simply recited a blessing before and after the reading. The number of aliyot allocated at a religious service depends on the occasion.

NUMBER OR NAME:   You are called up either by Hebrew name or by aliyah number.   The number or name would be preceded by the word “Ya’amod” (for a man) or “Ta’amod” (for a woman), which is Hebrew for “stand up!”   For example, “Ta’amod aliyah rishonah” (first aliyah).   [rishon, sheni, shlishi, revi’i, chamishi, shvi’i…]   OR “Ya’amod Moshe ben Shmuel v’Chana (Michael, son of Samuel and Anna).

TALLIT AND KIPPAH:   Please know that it is not "required" at Etz Chayim to wear a kippah or a tallit . You are encouraged to do what feels "authentic" to you, wearing them or not. There will always be tallitot to borrow, either at the door, on the Torah table, or from someone in front.

“How To” – The Aliyah Choreography

LEFT SIDE OF TORAH TABLE:   When you are called for your aliyah, come up to the left of the Torah table as you approach it—which will place you on the right-hand side of the Torah as you face the congregation.  

NOTING THE FIRST WORD TO BE READ:   The Torah reader will use the yad (pointer) to show you the first word of the section to be read.   If you are wearing a tallit, you can touch the tzitzit (corner fringe) to the margin area that is closest to where the reading is to begin. (This indicates that the person doing the reading of that portion is reading it on your behalf.) Some people then kiss the tzitzit to indicate reverence for the Torah—but again, just do what feels comfortable.   The service leader will then roll the Torah closed and/or cover it while you recite the blessings to indicate that what you are reading (the blessing) is not the Torah reading itself.

HOLD POLES : Stand and hold the etzay chayim (the Torah poles on which the scrolls are rolled) to denote that you “own” this portion.  

RECITE BLESSING BEFORE THE READING:   Now you can recite the "Blessing before reading the Torah," reading from the prayerbook or the sheet on the reading table.   Remember to repeat the phrase "Baruch Adonai haM'vorach l'olam va'ed" after the congregation does it—people often omit that!   Raise the poles at the concluding “noteyn haTorah.” (this link takes you to the page where there is the music and text of the Aliyah) 

HOLD TORAH OPEN: After reciting the blessings, continue to stand to the right of the Torah while it is read.   You can hold the etz chayim on your side (if the reader is not holding it!) to help keep the Torah open until the reader finishes that section.

RECITE BLESSING AFTER THE READING:   When the reader is done, recite the "Blessing after reading the Torah." (this link takes you to the page where there is the music and text of the Aliyah) 

GO TO OTHER SIDE OF TORAH TABLE: Then, go to the left side of the Torah and stay there through the blessings and reading that follows.   You can hold the left side of the scroll for the reader of the next section.

RETURN TO YOUR SEAT:   When the aliyah after yours is completed, you can return to your seat in the congregation. If you borrowed a tallit, please leave it next to the Torah for another person to use.

YASHER KOACH:   Often people will shake your hand after you have been honored with an aliyah and give you good wishes, saying “Yasher Koach” which is roughly the Hebrew equivalent of “well done.”

1 Compiled by Eileen Soffer & Rabbi Ari Cartun.   Updated 2007/5767.

2 Some of the background material was adapted from To Pray as a Jew by Hayim Halevy Donin and The Jewish Book of Why by Alfred Kolatch.