RTPV Guidelines for an Aliyah

Policies:

• When called for an aliyah at RTPV, you may come up to the Torah with or without a kippa (yarmulke) and with or without a tallit.
• Feel free to say the blessings in either Hebrew or English (however you are most comfortable). There is a placard on the Torah reading table with the blessings printed in Hebrew and transliterated into English. You may bring also this paper to the bema and read the blessings
• A married couple coming up for an aliyah may say the blessings together, alternate them or have only one spouse recite them.
• Only a Jewish adult may be called to the Torah and pronounce the blessings in Hebrew or English. A non-Jewish spouse is welcome to accompany a Jewish spouse to the bema and stand next to him/her during the reading. In this case the rabbi will invite the non-Jewish spouse to the bema. The rationale for this is, that the blessings mention that God "...has chosen us and given us the Torah." It is only appropriate for a person included in the Jewish covenant to make such a pronouncement.
• Similarly, only a person of Jewish faith may carry the Torah in procession and dress the Torah after the reading.
• A Jewish adult may be called for an aliyah even if that individual has never been called to the Torah before, as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or otherwise.
• It is out general custom to call only one adult, or a married couple to the Torah for each aliyah. Children under Bar/Bat Mitzvah age may accompany parents to the bema for the parent’s aliyah, but are not permitted to recite the blessings
• Please share any happy occasions with us by asking the rabbi for an aliyah. If you have graduated, received a new job, a new home, an award, returned from Israel, recovered from sickness: these are all occasions to be called to the Torah to for an honor.
• The custom of the Reform movement is to call people to the Torah by their father and mother’s name (i.e., “Yitzhaq ben Avraham v’Sara”). If you need help determining a Hebrew name, please consult the Rabbi.

• Come up to the Torah when your name is called by the Rabbi (or the Reader)
• Stand to the right of the to the Reader
• The Reader will open the Torah and point to the first word of the aliyah to be read. If you are wearing a tallit, you may touch a fringe to the margin nearest the word and then kiss the fringe.
• Once the Torah has been closed, recite the following:

• The congregation will respond:

• Repeat the congregations' response and continue with the blessing:

• The Reader will chant the text from the Torah scroll. Once the Reader has finished, the Reader will point to the last word. You may again you may touch a fringe to the margin nearest the word and then kiss the fringe. Then, recite:

• When you have completed the blessing, step to the left side of the Reader and wait while the next aliyah is blessed and read. When the person(s) being called to the Torah after you have completed the aliyah, they will take your place on the left side of the Reader, and you should return to your seat.