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.
- 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.
- Wait by the right side (looking from the pews) of the reading table (or take a seat if things are more formal)
- The Rabbi will announce your name and formally call you up.
- Stand to the right side of the Rabbi (opposite from how you came up)
- Using your tallit or your prayerbook, touch the Torah in the place the Rabbi indicates.
6. Chant the blessing before the Torah reading:
בָּרְכוּ אֶת–יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ
[בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד Congregation]
בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ ,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם ,אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר–בָּנוּ מִכָּל–הָעַמִים וְנָתַן–לָנוּ אֶת–תּוֹרָתוֹ ,בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ ,נוֹתֵן הַתּוֹרָה
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 | Duration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Blessing Before Torah Cantor Geoffrey B. Fine |
0:48 min | |||
7. The Rabbi, Cantor, or b'nai mitzvah student will chant the Torah portion. When the chanting has finished, chant the blessing for after the reading of the Torah:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ ,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָנוּ תוֹרַת אֱמֶת וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵנוּ, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ ,נֹותֵן הַתּוֹרָה
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 | Duration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Blessing After Torah Cantor Geoffrey B. Fine |
0:33 min | |||
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!
