...Continued from previous week
1) When the Shliach Tzibbur repeats the Shemona Esrei during the morning prayers, he adds in “Birchas Kohanim” right before the Bracha of “Sim Shalom”. (This is in place of the actual Birchas Kohanim, known as “duchening” of the Kohanim which in most Ashkenazic places in Chutz L’Aretz is only done on Yom Tov. In many places in Eretz Yisroel as well as in many Sephardic congregations in Chutz L’Aretz, they do perform actual Birchas Kohanim daily)
2) When the Shliach Tzibbur says the words “YeVarechecha Hashem” he should face the Aron Hakodesh. When saying “V’Yishmarecha” he should turn to his right side. When saying the words “Ya’er Hashem” he should once again face the Aron Hakodesh. Finally, when saying the words “Panav Eilecha ViChuneka” he should turn to his left side, which is the right of the Shechina. (Zohar Parshas Naso quoted in Be’er Heitev Siman 127:4 and Mishna Berura S”K 8. See also Shu”y Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 17 Siman 18 for more on this topic)
Since this is based on turning towards the Shechina, both lefties and righties follow the same procedure detailed above. (Parenthetically, See Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Parsha 12 toward the end of Siman 4 where the Brachos of “Birchas Kohanim are likened to a Kemeia (a spiritual amulet) provided by Hashem that protects Klal Yisroel, Hashem’s beloved children, from Ayin Hara, the evil eye)
3) When taking out, handing over, holding or carrying a Sefer Torah, it should be held with the stronger hand, thus a right handed person should carry it so that it leans on his right shoulder and he grasps it with his right hand, and vice versa for a left handed person. (Pri Megadim, Aishel Avraham, Siman 134)
Some Poskim, however, rule that even left handed people need to take it out and hand it over with their right hand, as it is more respectful for the Sefer Torah to be held on the right side. (However, it is possible that they rule this way only for taking out and handing over of the Torah, but not necessarily the entire time it is being held)
Another reason cited is based on the Posuk (Devarim 33:2) “MiMino Aish Das Lamo” which means that the Torah was written with Hashem’s right hand and given to us by Hashem with His right hand. (See Darchei Moshe Siman 134 quoting MaHaril ,Sha’ar Ephraim Sha’ar 10:2 and Mishna Berura Siman 282:1 and Sha’ar HaTziun Os 2.)
4) All agree that if by holding it on his right side with his right hand it is in jeopardy of falling, that it be held on the left side with the left hand. (Sha’ar Ephraim ibid.)
There is no problem if the weaker hand is used to assist the stronger hand in taking out, handing over and carrying a Sefer Torah. (ibid.)
5) After reading the Torah (according to the Sephardic tradition this is done before the reading of the Torah) Hagbahas HaTorah, lifting of the Torah is performed, as follows:
Somebody from the Tzibbur lifts up the Torah and unfurls it a minimum of three columns of writing, so that the writing in the Torah can be seen. (See Mishna Berura Siman 134:8). It is proper to make sure the seam is in the middle before lifting the Torah. (Sha’ar Ephraim Sha’ar 10:17)
The one lifting it needs to turn to his right, slowly, and make a complete circle so that every single person in the Shul as well as in the women’s section can see the Torah’s words. (Mishna Berura Siman 134:9. Sha’ar Ephraim Sha’ar 10:13. In the event that there are no people in the front part of the Shul, it suffices to turn to the right and then to the left and not make a complete circle. See Halichos Shlomo Tefilah Perek 12:28. See Ramban Devarim 27:26 that one who doesn’t lift the Torah so that everyone can see it is subject to the Torah’s curse of Arur Asher Lo Yakim Es HaTorah HaZos.).
A left handed person also makes the complete circle by turning to the right, as since this is a public display it is not respectful to do it differently than most people do it. (Ruling of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal based on Pri Megadim, Mishbetzos Zahav, Siman 128:11 and other Poskim. See also Shu”t Be’er Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 3:14)
6) It is proper to see the words in the Torah to the point that they can actually be read, as doing so is extremely beneficial for spiritual growth. (See Mishna Berura Siman 134:11. According to kabalistic sources it is proper to see the first letter of your name, if possible, while gazing at the Sefer Torah during Hagbah)
When seeing the words of the Torah (and not when seeing the back of the Torah scroll, as some people mistakenly do) all present should bend their knees and say the words “V’Zos HaTorah Asher Sam Moshe Lifnei Bnei Yisroel. [Al Pi Hashem yachanu V'Al Pi Hashem Yisa'u Es Mishmeres Hashem Shamaru] Al Pi Hashem B’Yad Moshe”. (A combination of 2 Pesukim, one in Devarim 4:44 and one in Bamidbar 9:23. According to the Gaon of Vilna, the beginning of the second Posuk, which are in brackets above, is added in as well, as per the Talmud’s dictum (Taanis 27b) not to split Pesukim in half.) (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 134:2 based on a Mishna in Maseches Sofrim Perek 14:14)
...to be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
