What Does The Congregation Do During Hagbahah? During Hagbah, it is customary for the entire congregation to look at the script of the Sefer Torah as it is lifted and turned for all to see. At that moment, everyone should recite the verse: "וזאת התורה אשר שם משה לפני בני ישראל"—“This is the Torah that Moshe placed before the Children of Israel”