Halacha Corner - Honor for a Torah Scroll

The Rambam writes: "Anyone who sees a Torah scroll being carried must stand before it, and everyone must remain standing until it reaches its place or is no longer visible to them; only then may they sit."

When the Torah scroll is on the reading table, it is considered to be "in its place." The same applies when someone is sitting and holding it, such as when several Torah scrolls are being used for the reading. During the hakafot around the bimah, however, the Torah scroll is certainly not "in its place." Some authorities maintain that people may sit during the dancing only when the Torah scrolls themselves are not being carried in the dancing, even if they are being held by people who are standing. Others permit sitting even while people are dancing with the Torah scrolls. The elderly and those who are weak may rely on the lenient opinions. If there are people standing stationary between a seated person and the Torah scroll, when necessary they may be regarded as a partition, making the Torah scroll as though it were in a separate domain.

When the Torah scroll is held by the chazzan during Yizkor or similar occa- sions, there is no obligation to stand. One must stand when the Torah is raised (hagbahah), as well as when the Ark is opened to remove or return the Torah scroll. (adapted from Sichat HaShevua)