Synagogue Skills Flashcards
A) What days do we read three alyiot l’Torah?
B) Under what circumstance can we add a fourth person?
C) Do we read haftorah on those days?
A) Monday, Thursday, Mincha on Shabbat
B) If there are two bridegrooms. Because then it is “like a festival (Yom Tov)”
C) no
If we read Genesis 23:1-25:18 on Shabbat Morning, where do we start reading on Shabbat Mincha?
Genesis 25:19
What is the traditional order of reading?
Kohen, Levite, and Normal Israeli
If people are squabbling on Shabbat and forget to read the Torah, how do we correct this?
If people have calmed down by Mincha, read the entire portion and have seven ayliot on Shabbat Mincha.
If they haven’t calmed down by Mincha, Then read two portions on the upcoming Shabbat. Don’t read on Monday or Thursday since people have to go to work.
Q : what about shuls that meet only 2x a month? 135.2
Lets say you have an ignorant Cohen and a scholarly common Israeli, who should get the first Alyia?
The ignorant Cohen.
If a Cohen is reading the Shema when the first Alyia is called, who should get the first Alyia (assuming he is the only Cohen in the house)
We can not interrupt him to get an Alyiah. We should call an Israeli (here, an ordinary Jew) instead.
If it is a public fast day and the only Cohen’s in the house have not fasted, who should we call up for the first Alyiah?
We should call up an Israeli (here, an ordinary Jew) instead. The Cohen’s should step outside of the synagogue for a few minutes.
In the congregation, if there are only Levites and ordinary Jews (no Cohanim), who should be called for the three alyiot?
What 2 scenario’s can’t happen.
An ordinary Jew or Levi reads the first alyiah. If an ordinary Jew is called first, we should not call a Levite for the second Alyiah.
If a Levite reads the fisrt Alyiah, then that same Levite has to read the second Alyiah, because if a different Levite ascends to the Torah then people will assume that one of them has a blemish.
In the congreation, if there are only Cohanim and ordinary Jews, who should be called for the three alyiot?
A Cohen should read first alyiah and then be called for the second alyiah. A different Cohen should not be called for the second alyiah, since people will say that the first Cohen has a blemish פגום (and has now exited his Cohen status and become a normal Levite)
If we do call one Cohen after another, or one Levi after another, how should the Gabbi do it?
Say אף על פי שהוא כהן or אף על פי שהוא לוי
Do we need to be concerned with calling a Cohen or Levi for a maftir? Why or why not?
We don’t have concern, because we don’t mention his name.. Question about this one 135.10
If someone calls up a Cohen or Levi and they don’t ascend to the Torah, should the Gabbi call another Cohen or Levi to the Torah?
No, they should walk up to the Torah of their own accord. If they go up, people might think the first Cohen/Levi are blemished.
If a 12 person congregation has 11 Cohenim and one ordinary Jew, who should be called first?
The ordinary Jew in order “to preserve peaceful relations”. The same principle goes with 11 Levi’s and one ordinary Jew.
What is the hierarchy of people to be called to the Torah?
-Cohen, Levite, Regular Jew
W/in the regular Jews:
- Torah scholars hired by the congregation
- Torah scholars who aren’t hired by the congregation, but are learned enough to be
- Sons of Torah scholars
- Heads of the community
- Everyone else.
On days when three alyiot are said,how many pasukim should be read?
B) Why? What does this correspond to?
C) What if a subject is finished in less than 10 lines?
- B) It corresponds to the 10 commandments and the עשרת הדברות
c) Thats fine Amelek is only 9 verses.
What is the minimum number of Torah verses that an individual can read?
3
If you skip reading a Torah verse on Monday, Thursday, or Shabbat Mincha should you go back and read it?
If the congregation has already heard 10 verses, then no.
If the congregation has only heard 9 verses and then yes.
If you skip reading a Torah verse on Shabbat morning should you go back and read it?
Yes. Even if the congregation has heard a bunch of verses.
Even if the congregation has davened Musaf.
If you skip reading a Torah verse on Yom Tov should you go back and read it?
If the congregation has already heard 10 verses, then no.
If the congregation has only heard 9 verses and then yes.
This is the same ruling as Monday, Thursday, and Shabbat Mincha.
If a person errs and only reads two verses of Torah for an Aliyah, what should they do?
They should go back and read 3 verses.
Do you need a minyan to read Torah? What happens if someone leaves once you start reading?f
You need a minyan at the beginning, but if someone leaves during the reaading, that is ok..
Can you read from a scroll that just contains the book of Genesis?
No. All five scrolls have to be stitched together.
If no one is prepared enough to read Torah, what should happen?
The Schatz reads from a voweled troped chumash first, then another person reads from the Torah after him.
If you’re community is super poor and you can’t afford a kosher Torah, can you bless on an invalid Torah?
Nope.
If you are reading a Torah scroll and you come across a complete mistake, what should you do?
What about the blessings?
Stop reading. Take out a kosher Torah scroll and continue from the place where the mistake was.
When you continue reading, do not do the begining blessing but do the ending blessing once the reading is finished.
