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

Lifting The Torah

He who lifts the Torah unrolls it until at least three columns are in view, touches those columns with his tallit or the Torah's belt, kisses it, then lifts the Torah, turning right and left for all to see. The congregation stands, gazes at the Torah, and recites aloud:

The grandeur of the Torah

Hebrew

וְזֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂם מֹשֶׁה
לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Chabad

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

See page 945 for transliteration.

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 set back down upon the bimah and closed.¹ The one holding the Torah is seated, after which the Torah is wrapped and covered.

At this juncture on Purim, the Megillah is read (see page 646).

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

Shacharit on Weekdays

What follows may be recited while seated.

Focus intently upon the meaning of the verse פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ in the paragraph below. If recited without concentration, repeat the verse with concentration.

While uttering the words פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ, touch the hand-tefillin; while uttering the words וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָצוֹן, touch the head-tefillin, then kiss the fingertips. See page 942 for transliteration.

We extol 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.