Torah Blessings
Torah Blessings: Being Called to the Torah
You are being called for the Honor of Blessing the Torah.
Whenever the Torah is read or chanted publicly, such as on Shabbat or a holiday, the congregation honors members or guests of the congregation by inviting them up to the bima for an aliyah (literally “going up”), the honor of blessing the Torah. This honor is generally reserved for Jewish adults.
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 rabbi will announce each person who is reciting the aliyah’s English name, and the cantor will call them up by their Hebrew names. 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, you can offer the Torah reader a “yasher koach” (well done!), 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. Then you can 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!
Congregation: Ba-ruch Adonai ha-me-vo-rach l’o-lam va-ed.
Reader: Ba-ruch Adonai ha-me-vo-rach l’o-lam va-ed.
Ba-ruch a-ta Adonai, Eloheinu meh-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!
Praise Adonai, to whom our praise is due!
Praised be Adonai, to whom our praise is due, now and forever!
Blessed are You, Eternal One, our God, who has chosen us from all peoples by
giving us the Torah. Blessed are You, Adonai, Giver of the Torah.
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,
a-sher na-tan la-nu to-rat eh-met, v’cha-yei o-lam na-ta b’to-chei-nu.
Ba-ruch ata Adonai, no-tein ha-to-ra.
Blessed are You, Eternal One, our God, Sovereign of the world, who has given us a Torah of truth, and planted in our midst eternal life. Blessed are You, Eternal One, who gives the Torah.
Wed, October 9 2024
7 Tishrei 5785
Worship Schedule
-
Thursday ,
OctOctober 10 , 2024Thursday Morning Minyan
Thursday, Oct 10th 8:00a to 9:00a
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome. -
Friday ,
OctOctober 11 , 2024Kol Nidre Service
Friday, Oct 11th 7:45p to 9:30p
The Beth Am community comes together for Yom Kippur services. G'mar chatimah tovah — May you be inscribed for a year of goodness! -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024Yom Kippur Family Service
Shabbat, Oct 12th 9:00a to 10:00a
Families come together for this family-friendly Yom Kippur service, designed for ages up to 6th grade. G'mar chatimah tovah — May you be inscribed for a year of goodness! -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024Morning Yom Kippur Service
Shabbat, Oct 12th 10:30a to 12:45p
The Beth Am community comes together in person and virtually for Yom Kippur services. G'mar chatimah tovah — May you be inscribed for a year of goodness! -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024Yom Kippur Afternoon Study Sessions
Shabbat, Oct 12th 1:15p to 2:00p
As is our custom on Yom Kippur afternoon, Beth Am members will be offering learning sessions on a variety of Jewish topics. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024Yom Kippur Afternoon Study Sessions
Shabbat, Oct 12th 2:15p to 3:00p
As is our custom on Yom Kippur afternoon, Beth Am members will be offering learning sessions on a variety of Jewish topics. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024Yom Kippur Musical Interlude
Shabbat, Oct 12th 2:45p to 3:30p
Take some time for reflection to the sound of introspective melodies. G'mar chatimah tovah — May you be inscribed for a year of goodness! -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2024Yom Kippur Afternoon Service
Shabbat, Oct 12th 3:30p to 6:00p
The Beth Am community comes together for Yom Kippur services. G'mar chatimah tovah - May you be inscribed for a year of goodness! -
Thursday ,
OctOctober 17 , 2024Thursday Morning Minyan
Thursday, Oct 17th 8:00a to 9:00a
These services are led by members of the congregation — all are welcome. -
Saturday ,
OctOctober 19 , 2024Shabbat Morning Service: Bat Mitzvah Mazlish
Shabbat, Oct 19th 10:30a to 12:30p
All are welcome and encouraged to join the family of our Bat Mitzvah in worship and celebration.