What Does The Congregation Do During Hagbahah

Halacha Moment
Sep 4
2 min read

The Daily Halacha Moment - What Does The Congregation Do During Hagbahah

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

What Does The Congregation Do During Hagbahah?

Answer:

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 [1]. 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” [2]. This practice is not limited to men; women who are present in the synagogue at the time of Hagbahah are also encouraged to look at the Torah and recite the verse.

However, when it comes to someone who is in the middle of reciting Pesukei DeZimra, Birkot Kriyat Shema, or the Shema itself, one should not interrupt those sections to verbally recite the verse. Instead, such a person should simply look at the Sefer Torah with kavannah (intent) and think the words of "וזאת התורה" in their mind without saying them aloud [3]. If, however, one is between Pesukei DeZimra and Birkot Kriyat Shema, they may recite the verse for Hagbah in the usual way [4].

Similarly, if someone is in the middle of putting on Tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam when Hagbahah takes place, they should pause momentarily and verbally recite "וזאת התורה".

[5]

Sources:

[1]. Mishna Berurah 134:12 clarifies that וזאת התורה is only recited for seeing the writing in the sefer torah.

[2]. Shulchan Aruch O.C. 134:2

[3]. Yalkut Yosef 134:8

[4]. Yalkut Yosef 51:14

[5]. Vayivarech Dovid (Tefillin p. 45) writes that a person should interrupt putting on tefillin of rabbenu tam to recite the pasuk of וזאת התורה during hagbah.

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