Torah Blessings
Torah Blessings: Being Called to the Torah
You are being called for the Honor of Blessing the Torah.
The Torah service begins about midway through the service. After the Torah has been removed from the Ark, brought forward and unrolled on the center table of the bimah (the raised pulpit area), the rabbi will speak briefly to the congregation. The cantor will then call the people forward in turn. The rabbi will announce each person’s English name. When the rabbi calls your name, please come forward promptly, approaching the bimah on the rabbi’s side. Take your place next to the person reading the Torah on his/her right-hand side.
Men and women are both strongly encouraged to wear a tallit when called for an aliyah at Beth Am (tallitot are available at the entrance to the sanctuary). If you wear a tallit, you may wish to follow the traditional practice of touching the open Torah (at the place where the reader will begin) with one of the tzitzit (the fringes at the corners of the tallit), then kissing the fringe. The Blessing before the Reading of the Torah is then recited. You need not bring a copy of the blessings up to the bimah with you as there is a copy on the table, in large type, in both Hebrew and transliteration. However, if you are more comfortable doing so, you certainly may. We strongly encourage those who do not recite the blessings regularly to practice them ahead of time in order to reduce nervousness. Feel free to ask a friend, a family member, one of the rabbis, or the cantor for a refresher on the words or melody.
When you finish the blessing after the reading, please shake hands with the rabbi, then move to the other side of the reading table and stand next to the cantor. Remain there until the next person completes the blessings and comes to that spot. Shake hands with that person and return to your seat unless you have the final aliyah. In that case, please remain where you are until the Torah and its covering have been carried away. Then return to your seat.
Mazal tov and thank you for helping make the service a beautiful and meaningful one.
Below you will find Torah blessings for before and after reading from the Torah:
Torah Blessings for BEFORE Reading from the Torah
The texts instructions below are also available as a downloadable pdf: Torah Blessings download
Blessing for BEFORE Reading from the Torah (Audio)
This audio file is in mp3 format and should be playable in any media player. If you're having difficulty, you can download QuickTime.
Each person called up to the reading of the Torah touches it with tzitzit (the fringes of the tallit), kisses the tzitzit, holds the handles of the Torah and says:
Reader: Ba-r’chu et Adonai ha-me-vo-rach! Praise Adonai, to whom our praise is due! |
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Torah Blessings for AFTER Reading from the Torah
Blessing for AFTER Reading from the Torah (Audio)
This audio file is in mp3 format and should be playable in any media player. If you're having difficulty, you can download QuickTime.
Ba-ruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu meh-lech ha-o-lam, Blessed are You, Eternal One, our God, Sovereign of the world, who has given us a Torah of |
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Tue, January 26 2021
13 Sh'vat 5781
Worship Schedule
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Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Thursday Morning Minyan (via Zoom)
Thursday, Jan 28th 8:00a to 9:00a
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome. -
Friday ,
JanJanuary 29 , 2021Shabbat Pre-Service Meet Up In The (Virtual) Foyer
Friday, Jan 29th 5:45p to 6:15p
See old friends (virtually) and get caught up, and/or meet new people who are also coming to the Erev Shabbat service. -
Friday ,
JanJanuary 29 , 2021STREAM ONLINE: Shabbat Service
Friday, Jan 29th 6:15p to 7:30p
We encourage you to watch from home at betham.org/streaming, starting at 6:15 PM. -
Friday ,
JanJanuary 29 , 2021Shabbat Post-Service Meet Up In The (Virtual) Foyer
Friday, Jan 29th 7:15p to 8:30p
See old friends (virtually) and get caught up, and/or meet new people who are also coming to the Erev Shabbat service. -
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2021Torah Minyan Shabbat Morning Service
Shabbat, Jan 30th 10:30a to 11:30a
Join Beth Am clergy for a musical Shabbat morning worship service focused on learning and spiritual growth. -
Thursday ,
FebFebruary 4 , 2021Thursday Morning Minyan (via Zoom)
Thursday, Feb 4th 8:00a to 9:00a
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome. -
Friday ,
FebFebruary 5 , 2021STREAM ONLINE: Focus on Inclusion Month Erev Shabbat Service
Friday, Feb 5th 6:15p to 7:30p
We will hear from two guest speakers who will share their experiences of having physical and mental differences or caring for a loved one with physical or mental differences. -
Saturday ,
FebFebruary 6 , 2021Torah Minyan Shabbat Morning Service
Shabbat, Feb 6th 10:30a to 11:30a
Join Beth Am clergy for a musical Shabbat morning worship service focused on learning and spiritual growth. -
Saturday ,
FebFebruary 6 , 2021Shabbat Morning Service: Bat Mitzvah Wolosin
Shabbat, Feb 6th 10:30a to 12:30p
All are welcome and encouraged to join the family of our B'nei Mitzvah in worship and celebration as we welcome them into our adult congregation. -
Thursday ,
FebFebruary 11 , 2021Thursday Morning Minyan (via Zoom)
Thursday, Feb 11th 8:00a to 9:00a
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome.