Raising The Torah

Chabad: ' is a reduced vowel — every vocal shva, always pronounced. - separates syllables that would otherwise run together.

How to read the transliterations

Raising The Torah

The one who raises the Torah opens it so that at least three columns are visible, touches them with his tallit or with the Torah's belt, which he kisses, and then raises the Torah, turning to the right and left for all to see. The congregation stands, looks at the Torah, and says aloud:

The greatness of the Torah

Hebrew

וְזֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂם מֹשֶׁה
לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Chabad

v'zoys hatoyroh asher som Moysheh
lifnei b'nei Yisro-eil:

For transliteration, see page 945.

Hebrew

עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים
בָּהּ, וְתוֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר:
דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם, וְכָל
נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם: אֹרֶךְ יָמִים
בִּימִינָהּ, בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עֹשֶׁר
וְכָבוֹד: יְהֹוָה חָפֵץ לְמַעַן צִדְקוֹ,
יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר:

Chabad

eitz chayim hi lamachazikim
boh, v'soym'cheho m'ushor:
d'rocheho darchei noy-am, v'chol
n'sivoyseho sholoym: oyrech yomim
biminoh, bismoyvloh oysher
v'chovoyd: Adonoy chofeitz l'ma-an tzidkoy,
yagdil Toyroh v'yadir:

The Torah is lowered back onto the bimah and closed.¹ The person holding the Torah is seated, and the Torah is then wrapped and covered.

On Purim, the Megillah is read at this point (see page 646).

On Tishah B'av, the Haftarah is read, after which the Torah is returned to the Ark and Kinot are read.

Shacharit for Weekdays

The following may be said while sitting.

Concentrate intently the meaning. of the verse פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ in the following paragraph. If said without concentration repeat the verse with concentration.

Touch the hand-tefillin while saying the words פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ, touch the head-tefillin while saying the words וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן, and then kiss the fingertips. For transliteration, see page 942.

We praise God's greatness

Hebrew

אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ, עוֹד
יְהַלְלוּךָ סֶּלָה: אַשְׁרֵי
הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ, אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם
שֶׁיְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו:

Chabad

ashrei yoysh'vei veisecho, oyd
y'hal'lucho seloh: ashrei
ho-om shekochoh loy, ashrei ho-om
she-Adonoy eloyhov:

Hebrew

תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד, אֲרוֹמִמְךָ
אֱלֹהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ, וַאֲבָרְכָה שִׁמְךָ
לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:² בְּכָל יוֹם אֲבָרְכֶךָּ,
וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
גָּדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד,³ וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ
אֵין חֵקֶר: דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח
מַעֲשֶׂיךָ, וּגְבוּרֹתֶיךָ יַגִּידוּ:
הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶךָ, וְדִבְרֵי
נִפְלְאֹתֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה: וֶעֱזוּז
נוֹרְאֹתֶיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ, וּגְדֻלָּתְךָ
אֲסַפְּרֶנָּה: זֵכֶר רַב טוּבְךָ
יַבִּיעוּ, וְצִדְקָתְךָ יְרַנֵּנוּ: חַנּוּן
וְרַחוּם יְהֹוָה, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם⁴ וּגְדָל
חָסֶד: טוֹב יְהֹוָה לַכֹּל, וְרַחֲמָיו עַל

Chabad

t'hiloh l'Dovid, aroymimcho
Eloyhai hamelech, va-avor'choh shimcho
l'oylom vo-ed: b'chol yoym avor'cheko,
va-ahal'loh shimcho l'oylom vo-ed:
godoyl Adonoy um'hulol m'oyd, v'ligdulosoy
ein cheiker: doyr l'doyr y'shabach
ma-asecho, ug'vuroysecho yagidu:
hadar k'voyd hoydecho, v'divrei
nifl'oysecho osichoh: ve-ezuz
noyr'-oysecho yoymeiru, ug'dulos'cho
asap'renoh: zeicher rav tuv'cho
yabiu, v'tzidkos'cho y'raneinu: chanun
v'rachum Adonoy, erech apayim ug'dol
chosed: toyv Adonoy lakoyl, v'rachamov al

Commentary

1 In the times of the Talmud, it was customary for the person who raised the Torah to roll it up as well. These two honors were collectively known as "rolling up," because the act of rolling up the Torah is the main honor. The Sages explain that although it is the last honor, the person who receives it also receives the rewards of all the previous aliyot. Nowadays, it is customary in some communities for the "rolling up" to be done by two people: one person raises the Torah, and a second person rolls it up. The Chabad custom, however, is that the person who raises the Torah is also given the main honor of rolling it up, as this more closely resembles the "rolling up" of the Talmudic era. A second person is then given the honor of dressing the Torah.

2 Alternatively, "I will draw down Your name to the world." As humans, we might not be able to praise God "forever" (in accordance with the literal translation of this verse), but we are able draw down God's light into this world by exalting Him through good deeds.

3 Literally, "very praised." Just as a teacher who has the ability to impart great wisdom to all students—regardless of age or ability—is very praised, so is God very praised. God expresses His infinite greatness in many ways, so that all people—no matter how spiritually inclined they may be—can recognize it and appreciate it.

4 Literally, "long face." God's "face" symbolizes His love, because love is expressed face to face. God's love is described as "long," because it originates in the greatest spiritual heights and extends down to the lowest levels of our physical world.