Gazing upon the Letters of the Torah Imbues a Person with an Incredible Light
With regards to gazing at the letters of the Torah, the Magen Avraham (ibid. 3) writes in the name of the Arizal (Sha’ar HaKavanos): When one sees the letters such that he can read them, a tremendous light reaches him. He is referring to the “segulah”—good omen—described by Rabeinu Chaim Vital in Sha’ar HaKavanos in the name of his mentor, the Arizal:
"מנהג מורי ז"ל שהיה נוהג לנשק הספר תורה, וללוותו לילך אחריו כשמוליכין אותו מן ההיכל אל התיבה לקרות בו, ואחר כך היה נשאר שם סמוך אל התיבה, עד שהיו פותחין הספר תורה ומראין אותו לקהל כנודע, ואז היה מסתכל באותיות הספר תורה ממש, והיה אומר שעל ידי הסתכלות האדם מקרוב כל כך שיוכל לקרוא האותיות היטב, על ידי זה נמשך אור גדול אל האדם".
My master of blessed memory had the custom of kissing the sefer Torah and accompanying it as it was transported from the sanctuary to the ark to be read from. He would then linger near the ark until they opened the sefer Torah and showed it to the congregation, as is customary. Then he would actually gaze at the letters of the sefer-Torah, and he would claim that by a person gazing from such close proximity that he is able to read the letters clearly, the person draws an exquisite (extraordinary) light to himself.
Based on what we have just learned, it is essential to instruct anyone who is honored with "הגבה"—raising the sefer-Torah—how to do it properly. After lifting the sefer from the podium, he should not merely turn slightly from side to side; he should turn a full 360 degrees (to face every direction) and should not do so hurriedly. For, if he fails to follow this protocol, and the entire congregation is not able to see the letters inscribed on the parchment, then the “klalah” of "אשר לא יקים" will apply to him, chas v’shalom. Conversely, if he does the “hagbah” properly, so that everyone present can see the letters of the Torah, he will merit the berachah of: "ברוך אשר יקים את דברי התורה הזאת"—blessed is the one who holds up this Torah.
So, now, it is with great pleasure and delight that we will explore the meaning and deeper significance of this practice taught in Maseches Sofrim and brought down in the Shulchan Aruch—that it is a mitzvah for all men and women to see the script (the written text). As our mentor, the Arizal, asserts: Seeing the letters up close enough to read them imbues a person with an extraordinary light.
