Background
Receving a "Speaking" or "Non-Speaking" honor during our services is, well , a great honor. You may have received this honor in order to celebrate a simcha - such as a Bar/ Bat Mitzvah, a baby naming or an upcoming wedding - or for no particular reason at all. By receiving an honor you have the opportunity to participate in our service in a very active and public way. But receiving such an honor puts a certain responsbility on the receipient. You are representative of all those people who join with us in prayer and it is important that you understand what is expected. This page was prepared in order to give those receiving an honor some background on the Shabbat (Sabbath) service, on the varioius honors given and the prayers that will be recited (if you receive a speaking honor).
Sabbath Service Etiquette
- The service beings promptly at 9:00 AM. Any guests having honors during the Torah service should be seated by 9:30 AM.
- All male guests are required to wear a yarmulke, Jewish males should wear a tallit (prayer shawl) and and married women are requested to wear a head covering.
- Please observe proper decorum during the service. People should be seated quickly and quietly so as not to disrupt the service more than necessary. They should not enter or leave the sanctuary when the congregation is standing, the ark is open, the Torah or Haftorah is being read, or when the Rabbi is speaking. Smoking, writing, the use of cameras, recording devices, beepers and cell phones are all prohibited in the Synagogue.
This
refers when a person is called to the Torah as an aliyah to recite
the blessings before and after the Torah reading. These prayers must
be recited in Hebrew and appear in both Hebrew and transliterated form
at the bima. It is important that when you receive a speaking honor
or wish to invite a guest (e.g., as part of a Bar / Bat mitzvah or
other life event) to receive a speaking honor that you notify the ritual
chairman or Gabbi whether your or any of your guests are a Kohen, Levite,
or Israelite. Couples can be called for a joint aliyah. If one of the
people in the couple is a Kohen or a Levite, then that person should
lead off the recitation of the blessings. A woman is considered a Bat
Kohen or a Bat Levite if her father was a Kohen or Levite, respectively.
If you are called to the Torah for a speaking honor you will be asked for
your Hebrew name. The Hebrew name is Your Hebrew name BEN (son of) or BAT
(daughter of) and then your father and mothers Hebrew names. (The traditional
way of calling a man to the Torah is Your Hebrew name BEN your father's
Hebrew Name.)
You will also be asked to recite the blessings before and after the reading of the Torah. If you are not familiar with these prayers it is a good idea to practice in advance. The prayers in both Hebrew and Transliterated English are on the Bema to assist you.
Click
on button below for a printer friendly page of the blessings in both
Hebrew and transliterated in English so that you can practice the prayers
before and after the reading of the Torah.
Non-Speaking Honors
This refers to the following activities:
-
Opening and closing the ark to remove the Torah
-
Opening and closing the ark to return the Torah to the ark (this is a separate honor)
-
Carrying the Torah during the first procession (after removing the Torah from the ark)
-
Carrying the Torah during the second procession (to return it to the ark)
-
Lifting the Torah (hagbah) after the reading is completed
-
Dressing the Torah (geleilah) before returning it to the ark.
It is important to remember that lifting and carrying the Torah requires strength; a Torah is very heavy! Therefore, do accept or select a person for these honors who will have difficulty lifting or carrying it. Also, if you have younger siblings or cousins present, you can have them carry the Torah crowns during the processions.
Key Forms
If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Ritual Committee at
Dorie Lynn, Ritual Committee
Phone (Home): (516) 678-0103
Phone (Work): (516) 599-0829 Ext 12
