May an Olah read his own Aliyah?

* This article is an excerpt from the above book
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May an Olah read his own Aliyah?

In the times of the Mishneh and Talmud, the custom was for the person who received the Aliyah to also serve as Baal Korei.[1] However, due to the fact that many Olim did not know how to read properly, the custom became for there to be a set Baal Korei who would read the Aliyah on his behalf.[2] Accordingly, the Olah does not read his Aliyah from the Torah even if he is an expert in the reading, and it is rather read by the set Baal Korei.[3] [Nonetheless, when the Baal Korei receives an Aliyah, he reads his Aliyah just as he reads the remainder of the Parsha.]

[1] See Michaber 141:2; Tzemach Tzedek 35:4

[2] Beis Yosef 141; Tur 141 in name of Rosh; M”B 141:8; Kaf Hachaim 141:15; See Tzemach Tzedek 35:4 that this custom of having a set Baal Korei was innovated in the times of Tosafos. However, during that time, the main custom was simply for the Baal Korei to assist the Olah in his own reading, and thus the Olah would still be the one reading out loud, and the Baal Korei would whisper silently to him. [See Tosafos Bava Basra 15a and Menachos 30a] However, later on the custom became to do the opposite for the Baal Korei to read aloud and for the Olah to read silently. [See Rosh Shabbos 1]

[3] M”B 141:8; Kaf Hachaim ibid

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