The verse “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people” (Neh. 8:5) is the biblical precedent for raising an open scroll so that the entire congregation can view the Torah script.
The person who lifts the Torah traditionally opens at least three columns of the scroll before raising it up as high as possible, and then slowly turns to show the script to all assembled. This allows everyone in the congregation to see the text and proclaim “v’zot ha-Torah” (this is the Torah [that Moses placed before the Children of Israel]; Deut. 4:44). Some worshipers raise the edges of the tallit toward the script and then kiss the tzitzit, though the halachic (Jewish law) requirement is merely to bow toward the open Torah.
Ashkenazi and Sephardic Traditions
Ashkenazim and Sephardim have developed different traditions for the timing and wording of this dramatic ceremony.
In Ashkenazi congregations, the Torah scroll is raised after the reading is completed, whereas Sephardic Jews raise the Torah scroll before the reading begins. In addition, in the Ashkenazi rite there is the addition of a second verse, “at the Lord’s bidding through Moses” (Num. 9:23). Although now everyone at an Ashkenazic service says both verses together, at one time only the person who raised the Torah may have recited the first line, while the second was the congregational response.
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“Hagbah” is the term for raising the Torah, which is performed by the magbiah; “gelilah” is the word for rolling up and tying the Torah scroll and replacing its cover and ornaments, which is done by the goleil. The Talmud does not appear to separate these two functions, referring primarily to the latter (Meg. 32a). Indeed, at one time, the person who received the last aliyah may have performed both of these duties.
However, having one person responsible for both holding the Torah and tying the binder around the scroll could be fraught with hazard and presumably led to the decision to share the honor between two people. Although these activities do not require the recitation of a blessing, hagbah and gelilah are considered religiously significant roles. Some Rabbis viewed the honor of gelilah as having the spiritual reward of all the aliyot combined, and thus this task was traditionally reserved for the most distinguished members of the congregation. Over time, hagbah became the more coveted task.
In Western Sephardic congregations there were special groups of individuals–levantadores (“master lifters” of the scroll)–who were exclusively honored with the role of hagbahso as to minimize the danger of dropping the scroll or handling it in a degrading way. In modern Sephardic congregations, gelilahis generally performed by one of the gabbaim standing on either side of the Torah reader.
Reprinted with permission from The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions, published by the Jewish Publication Society.
aliyah
Pronounced: a-LEE-yuh for synagogue use, ah-lee-YAH for immigration to Israel, Origin: Hebrew, literally, “to go up.” This can mean the honor of saying a blessing before and after the Torah reading during a worship service, or immigrating to Israel.
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Sephardic
Pronounced: seh-FAR-dik, Origin: Hebrew, describing Jews descending from the Jews of Spain.
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Talmud
Pronounced: TALL-mud, Origin: Hebrew, the set of teachings and commentaries on the Torah that form the basis for Jewish law. Comprised of the Mishnah and the Gemara, it contains the opinions of thousands of rabbis from different periods in Jewish history.
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Torah
Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.
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Hagbah
Pronounced: HAHG-buh, Origin: Hebrew, lifting of the opened Torah scroll after the public Torah reading is complete.
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tallit
Pronounced: tah-LEET or TAH-liss, Origin: Hebrew, prayer shawl.
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tzitzit
Pronounced: TZEET-tzeet, or TZIT-siss, Origin: Hebrew, fringes tied to the corners of a prayer shawl.
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halachic
Pronounced: huh-LAKH-ic, Origin: Hebrew, according to Jewish law, complying with Jewish law.
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