Halachah 1 — Institution of Public Torah Reading
Moshe Rabbeinu instituted public Torah reading on Shabbat, Monday, and Thursday, so that no three days pass without Torah.
Ezra added Shabbat Minchah reading for shopkeepers and ordained that on Mondays and Thursdays:
- three people read,
- at least ten verses are read.
Halachah 2 — Days on Which the Torah and Haftarah Are Read
The Torah is read publicly on:
- Shabbat,
- festivals,
- Rosh Chodesh,
- fast days,
- Chanukah and Purim,
- every Monday and Thursday.
The Haftarah is read only on:
- Shabbat,
- festivals,
- Tish’ah B’Av.
Halachah 3 — Basic Requirements of Public Torah Reading
Public Torah reading requires:
- a quorum of ten adult free Jewish men,
- at least ten verses,
- at least three readers.
Each reader must:
- read at least three verses,
- not begin or end too close to a section boundary.
Halachah 4 — Distribution of the Verses
When ten verses are read by three people:
- two read three verses,
- one reads four verses.
It is equally praiseworthy whether the four‑verse aliyah is first, middle, or last.
Halachah 5 — Blessings Before and After Reading
Each reader:
- opens the scroll and looks inside,
- says Barchu, followed by the opening blessing,
- reads his portion,
- closes the scroll and recites the concluding blessing.
The congregation responds Amen after each blessing.
Halachah 6 — Accuracy and Order of Reading
The reader may not begin until the congregation finishes responding Amen.
If even a single letter is read incorrectly, the section must be reread correctly.
Only one person may read at a time.
If a reader becomes unable to continue, another replaces him from that same point and recites the concluding blessing.
Halachah 7 — Authorization to Read
The reader may not begin until instructed by the most respected person of the community.
Even the chazan or gabbai may not begin independently.
When the chazan reads, another person must stand with him, as with all readers.
Halachah 8 — Skipping Within the Torah
One may skip within a single topic (e.g., in Emor), provided:
- nothing is read by heart,
- the pause is no longer than one verse of translation.
No word may be recited without looking at the text.
Halachah 9 — Congregational Conduct During Reading
The congregation must:
- remain silent,
- listen attentively,
- not speak—even words of Torah.
One may not leave the synagogue during reading, except between aliyot.
A full‑time Torah scholar may continue learning quietly during the reading.
Halachah 10 — The Translator (Meturgeman)
From Ezra’s time, a translator explained the Torah aloud.
Rules:
- the reader reads one verse at a time,
- the translator translates from memory,
- neither may overlap the other,
- the translator stands in awe and may not lean.
Halachah 11 — Limits on Translation
Certain passages are read but not translated, including:
- the incident of Reuven,
- the priestly blessing,
- parts of the golden calf narrative,
- specific sensitive verses in the story of Amnon.
Halachah 12 — Haftarah: Preliminary Rules
The person reading the haftarah must first read from the Torah (even three verses).
The Torah scroll must be closed before beginning the haftarah.
Normally 21 verses are read, unless the topic concludes earlier.
Halachah 13 — Reading and Translating the Haftarah
When reading the prophets:
- up to three verses may be read before translation,
- skipping between topics is allowed,
- skipping between prophets is forbidden, except within the Twelve.
Halachah 14 — Translation of the Haftarah
Three verses may be translated together unless they are separate topics, in which case they are translated one by one.
Halachah 15 — Blessings of the Haftarah
The haftarah reader recites:
- one opening blessing,
- four closing blessings, concluding with:
- God’s faithfulness,
- rebuilding Jerusalem,
- Davidic monarchy,
- the sanctity of the day.
Rosh Chodesh is mentioned when applicable.
Halachah 16 — Number of Aliyot
Aliyot assignments:
- Shabbat morning: 7
- Yom Kippur: 6
- Festivals: 5
- Rosh Chodesh, Chol HaMoed: 4
- Minchah of Shabbat/Yom Kippur, fast days, Mondays/Thursdays, Chanukah, Purim: 3
Some may be increased; others may not be changed.
Halachah 17 — Who May Be Called to the Torah
A woman does not read publicly for the honor of the congregation.
A knowledgeable minor may count toward the aliyot.
The haftarah reader counts as one aliyah unless Kaddish intervenes.
If only one reader is available, he may read multiple aliyot.
Halachah 18 — Order of Priestly Aliyot
Order:
- Kohen
- Levi
- Yisrael
Even an unlearned Kohen precedes a wise Yisrael.
The one who rolls the Torah closed receives reward equal to all others.
Halachah 19 — Absence of Kohanim or Levi’im
If no Kohen is present, a Yisrael reads first.
If no Levi, the Kohen reads again for the second aliyah.
Care is taken to avoid casting doubt on lineage.
Halachah 20 — Order of Torah Reading on Musaf Days
On days with Musaf:
- Morning prayer → Kaddish → Torah reading → Kaddish → Musaf.
Customs vary regarding Kaddish placement around the haftarah.
Halachah 21 — Torah Reading at Minchah
On Shabbat, Yom Kippur, and fast days:
- Torah is read before Minchah,
- followed by Kaddish and the Minchah service.
Torah is not read at Minchah on festivals.
Halachah 22 — Torah Reading on Non‑Musaf Days
When Musaf is not recited:
- Torah reading follows the Morning Amidah,
- followed by Kaddish, Ashrei, Kedushah, Kaddish, and dispersal.
Halachah 23 — Respect for the Torah Scroll
One may not read publicly from chumashim.
A Torah scroll may not be rolled publicly; if two sections are needed, two scrolls are used.
One reader may not read from two scrolls.
Halachah 24 — Handling the Torah Scroll
The scroll is rolled from the outside inward, tied from the inside, with stitching centered.
When a Torah scroll is removed, the congregation must remain and escort it until it is placed securely.
