The 17th of Tammuz

Hi,

Sunday July 20th is the fast of the 17th day of the month of Tammuz, and it begins a three-week national Jewish mourning period. [In Allentown the fast begins at 4:36 AM and ends at 9:10 PM.] We'll spend some time discussing this fast, and the three week period of national mourning it initiates.

On the 17th of Tammuz one neither eats nor drinks, but - unlike the fasts of Tisha b'Av and Yom Kippur - one may wear leather shoes and wash normally.

Be well,
Mordechai

Bringing children to kiss the Torah

Hi,

Early authorities record the practice of bringing children to kiss the Torah as the Torah is brought back to the Ark. The idea is to educate them in actively pursuing mitzvot.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 149:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Escorting the Torah

Hi,

When the Torah is returned to the Ark, all those before whom it passes should escort it on its way back to the Ark, as a sign of honor for the Torah. The same applies to those who picked up and wrapped the Torah.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 149:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Holding the Torah

Hi,

On days when we read from two Sifrei Torah, one Torah must be held while the other is in use. Out of respect for the Torah, one should not give it to a minor to hold; at the last, the holder should be of a certain intellectual maturity.

(Mishneh Berurah 147:29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hagbah when there are two Sifrei Torah

Hello,

On a day when there are two Torah scrolls, after we complete our reading from the first one we do not pick it up (for Hagbah) until the second one has been placed on the shulchan (reading table), so as not to leave ourselves absent from the mitzvah of the Torah reading.

However, we do not unwrap the second Torah until after the first Torah has been wrapped up; we do not overlap the mitzvot of the two Torah scrolls.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 147:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

G'lilah and Haftorah

Hi,

The reader of the Haftorah may not begin the blessings to start the Haftorah until the Torah is completely wrapped, so that the goleil (person wrapping the Torah) will be able to hear the Haftorah and its blessings.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 147:7; Mishneh Berurah 147:23)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Elevating the Torah [Hagbah]

Hi,

The person who raises the Torah for all to see should make sure that a seam (joining parchment sheets) is centered between the two rollers. This ensures that if the scroll should tear, the tear would cause the least damage and be easily repaired.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 147:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai