Are you attending a bar- or bat-mitzvah at which you will be called to the torah?  Have you been offered a chance for an aliyah and not known how to respond?  This page outlines the process followed when being called to the torah for an aliyah.  You can also download a PDF of the text to print it clearly.

1. If yours is the first aliyah, come up to the chairs on the right side behind the reading table as the torah is being undressed. For later aliyot, come up as the blessings after the torah reading for the previous aliyah are being sung.

2. Take a seat in any of the chairs on the right side.

3. The Rabbi will announce your name and formally call you up.

4. Stand on the right side of the Rabbi.

5. Using your tallit or your prayerbook, touch the Torah in the place the Rabbi indicates.

6. Chant the blessing before the Torah reading:

Bar’chu et A-do-nai ha-m’vo-rach

Cong. ---->[Ba-ruch A-do-nai ha-m’vo-rach l’o-lam va-ed]

Ba-ruch A-do-nai ha-m’vo-rach l’o-lam va-ed

Ba-ruch a-ta A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam,

a-sher ba-char ba-nu mi-kol ha-a-mim

v’na-tan la-nu et To-ra-to.

Ba-ruch a-ta A-do-nai, no-tein ha-To-rah.

Listen to the blessing before the torah reading:

Download	Name	Play	Size	Length
	Blessing Before Torah Cantor Geoffrey B. Fine		1.1 MB	0:48 min
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7. The Cantor will chant the Torah portion. When he’s finished, chant the blessing for after the reading of the Torah:

Ba-ruch a-ta A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam,

a-sher na-tan la-nu To-rat e-met

v’cha-yei o-lam na-ta b’to-chei-nu

Ba-ruch a-ta A-do-nai, no-tein ha-To-rah.

Listen to the blessing after the torah reading:

Download	Name	Play	Size	Length
	Blessing After Torah Cantor Geoffrey B. Fine		0.7 MB	0:33 min
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8. Move to your right and stand next to the gabbai (service helper).

9. When the aliyah after yours is completed, you can return to your seat.

10. Yashar Koach...Well Done!