From the Rav’s Desk: Getting an Aliyah if in fight with Baal Korei

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  • Question: [Wednesday, 29th MarCheshvan 5783]

I am the Gabbaiy of a Shul and I have the following unusual question. One of the congregants in our synagogue is in a year’s long financial dispute with our set Baal Korei, in which a lot of bad blood has been created between them. They do not speak. It was recently brought to my attention by someone that it’s a question of danger if I can give an Aliyah to the congregant if the set Baal Korei is the reader, and that perhaps I should only give him an Aliyah when someone else is taking him over for the reading. Is there any basis or truth to this?

Answer:

The above is only partially accurate. There is no Halachic issue or issue of danger with an enemy of the Baal Korei getting an Aliyah with exception to the verses in Scripture discussing curses, such as in Parshas Bechukosaiy and Ki Sisa, in which in any event the widespread custom is for the Baal Korei himself to receive the Aliyah.

Explanation: The Rishonim write, and so is ruled in the Shulchan Aruch, that the Baal Korei must be beloved upon the congregation as otherwise it is dangerous for him to read the verses which discuss curses. Likewise, if a person hates the Baal Korei, he is not to be called up for an Aliyah when verses discussing curses are being read. Thus, writes the Mishneh Berurah, the Gabaiy is to beware not to call up an enemy of the Baal Korei for an Aliyah of the curses. However, it is clear that this worry of danger only applies when reading verses in Scripture which discuss curses, however, by other verses there is no issue whatsoever

Sources: See Admur 53:24; Rama 53:19; Or Zarua 1:114; Maharil 97; Sefer Chassidim 409-410; M”B 53:58; Sefer Shemiras Haguf Vihanefesh [Lerner] 81:6

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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