Baal keriah
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A baal keriah (
Arrangement
When the Torah scroll is placed on the bimah, or reading table, the baal keriah approaches the bimah by the most direct route possible and stands in front of the scroll, a little to the left. If necessary, the scroll is rolled to the portion to be read, and then closed and covered with the mantle. To the left side of the scroll stands the gabbai, who calls up congregants to honor them with an aliyah. To the right of the scroll stands the second gabbai, the gabbai sheini.
Before each aliyah
When called up by the first gabbai, the oleh comes by the most direct route possible and stands to the right of the baal keriah.[2] A gabbai uncovers the scroll and the baal keriah indicates to the oleh which section will be read. In some communities, he only indicates the beginning; in others, he points to the beginning and the end. The oleh then touches the corner of his tallit (or some other holy piece of cloth, like the belt of the Torah scroll, or for scrolls with hard cases, the kerchief used to roll the scroll) to the indicated section and kisses it. He then rolls the scroll closed, holding on the right and left rollers (or sides of the case), turns slightly to the right and recites the blessings over the reading. The congregation answers "amen," the scroll is unrolled again, and then the baal keriah chants the section, holding onto the left roller and pointing, usually with a specially-made ornate pointer called a yad in his right.[1]
During the aliyah
During the chanting, the oleh reads quietly along with the baal keriah from the scroll, if he is able to.
End of the aliyah
At the end of the reading, the custom of the baal korei may dictate that he raise his voice at the cadence of the final verse, or simply finish with the usual tune for all verses. The oleh kisses the section just read in similar fashion to before the reading. The oleh then closes the scroll, holding onto both the rollers as before, turns slightly to the right and recites the concluding blessings. The congregation answers "amen," the scroll is covered, and the oleh stands next to the gabbai sheini until the next oleh finishes his reading. At that point, the oleh circles counter-clockwise about the bimah, taking the longest path back to his seat, as if reluctant to leave the Torah.[1] The baal keriah remains standing in place at the bimah until all the readings from the scroll are complete.
Sabbath and festivals: penultimate and maftir readings
On the Sabbath and holidays, the baal keriah will recite the half
After the maftir reading, the scroll is raised and shown to the congregation, and then wrapped in its decorative and protective garb. The baal keriah then joins the rest of the congregation in listening and reading the
Weekday readings
On Mondays and Thursdays when there is no holiday, no haftorah is read. Also, only three olim are called up, and each aliyah is usually much shorter than the full Sabbath readings, not covering the entire weekly portion read on the Sabbath. Otherwise, the sequence is almost the same.
Ending a book
After completing one of the five books of the
Discovering a scribal error
If a possible scribal error is discovered during the reading, the reading is halted while those knowledgeable approach to examine the scroll. A child may also be brought to see whether he can recognize an ambiguous letter. If the scroll is kosher, the reading continues from the verse where it was halted. If the scroll is pasul, or invalid, a replacement scroll is brought out, while the invalid scroll is set aside for repair at the first opportunity. The reading then continues from where it left off.[2]
Baal keriah as the oleh
If the baal keriah is himself called up as the oleh, he stands alone in front of the scroll, kisses the section to be read as usual, and recites the preparatory blessings like other olim. As he chants from the scroll, he either holds both of the rollers without pointing, or a gabbai holds a roller so that the baal keriah can use the pointer to keep his place.
Readings aside from the Torah scroll
Haftorah
In some congregations, the
Megillah
The
Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations, known as Eichah from its first word, is read on Tisha B'Av, the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. It is read in a sad tune, with all present, including the baal keriah, sitting on low cushions or chairs on the ground, in the manner of mourners. No blessings are recited before and after the reading, although supplications are recited. At night, it is customary to read by candlelight. At the beginning of each chapter, the baal keriah raises his voice. The reading of Eichah is not a commandment to the same degree as the Torah, Haftorah and Megillah, and so it is common to chant it from a printed text, rather than from a handwritten scroll.
Assignment of the baal keriah
No special ordination is required to be a baal keriah, although one should be
Preparation
To practice for the Torah reading, a baal keriah will usually use a special book called a
History
Before the 12th century, all olim would read their own aliyah (as the Yemenite Jews continue to do). As the knowledge to read the scrolls became more scarce, it became common to designate a person who would chant from the scroll throughout the year, in order to avoid embarrassing the olim.[1][5]
During the era of the Jewish kingdoms, it was also customary to gather all the Jewish people in Jerusalem every seven years to hear the Torah read by the king. This was known as Hakhel.
See also
- Torah reading
- Torah scroll
- Aliyah (Torah)
- Tikkun (book)
- Haftorah
- Megillah
- Eichah
- Hakhel
Readings
References
- ^ a b c d e Chabad.org: How to Get Called Up to the Torah (video)
- ^ a b c d Eisenberg, Ronald L. Jewish Traditions: a JPS Guide, pp. 451-3
- ^ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 141:2.
- ^ Katz, Mordechai. Understanding Judaism: A Basic Guide to Jewish Faith, History, and Practice, pp. 318-9.