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PERFORMING AN ALIYAH TO THE TORAH

Instructions:

1. The Cantor or Gabbai will announce the aliyah to the congregation and invite you by name to come up to the bima.

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2. Please ascend and stand at the right of the Torah reader. The blessings are on a plaque written in Hebrew and Hebrew transliteration, similar to that below this explanation.

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3. You may touch the Torah with your tallit, prayerbook, or the Torah belt on the lectern. This is a traditional custom giving honor to the Torah. Touch the Torah at the place where the reading will begin and the reader is pointing with the yad(pointer), then kiss that object (the tallit, prayerbook or Torah belt)

4. Read or chant the first blessing in Hebrew, or if you can’t or struggle to read Hebrew, you may use the English transliteration.

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בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְ-יָ הַמְבֹרָךְ

Bar’chu et Ado-nai ham’vo-rach!

Praise the One to whom our praise is due!

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5. After you read or chant the first sentence, the congregation, including the others around you, will respond with the second sentence and you repeat it the same way.  (this, by the way, is the most commonly misunderstood step!)

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בָּרוּךְ יְ-יָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד

Baruch Ado-nai ham’vo-rach l'olam va-ed.

Praised be the One to whom our praise is due, now and for ever!

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6.  Continue directly with this blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ-יָ אֱלֹהֵֽ-ינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּֽחַר בָּֽנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים

וְנָֽתַן לָֽנוּ אֶת תּוֹרָתוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ-יָ, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-o-lam,

a-sher ba-char banu mi-kol ha’a-mim, v’na-tan lanu et Torah-to. 

Baruch Atah Adonai, no-tein ha-Torah.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe: You have called us to Your service by giving us the Torah.

We praise You, O God, Giver of the Torah

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7. Stay to the right of the Torah reader while he or she then reads or chants the selection from the Torah.

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AFTER THE TORAH READER FINISHES

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8. At the conclusion of the reading, you may touch the end of the Torah text to which the reader will be pointing with the yad(pointer) using a tallit, prayerbook or Torah belt,then kiss that object (the tallit, prayerbook or Torah belt).

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9. Read or chant the concluding blessing.

,בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ-יָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

,אֲשֶׁר נָֽתַן לָֽנוּ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת

.וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵֽנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְ-יָ, נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה 

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-o-lam,

asher natan lanu Toraht emet, v'chayei olam, nata b'tochaynu, 

Baruch Atah Adonai, no-tein ha-Torah.

We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, You have given us a Torah of truth,

implanting within us eternal life. We praise You, O God, Giver of the Torah.

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