Question: When receiving an aliya, is it best to close the sefer Torah during the Berachos, or leave it open?
Answer: The Gemara (Megilla 32a) discusses a machlokes
about whether one who is called up to the Torah should leave the sefer
Torah open or close it while reciting the berachos before their aliya.
According to R’ Meir, the sefer Torah should be closed to avoid the
misconception that the berachos are written in the Torah. R’ Yehuda,
however, is not concerned about this potential misunderstanding. The Gemara concludes that the halacha
follows R’ Yehuda.
Consequently, Rambam (Tefilla
12:5) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 139:4) rule
that when called up, they should open the sefer Torah to see the section
they will read from, leave it open while reciting the Berachos, and then
proceed with the reading. Before
reciting the berachos after their aliya, one should close the sefer Torah.
The Taz (OC 139:4) and the Mishna Berura (139:17) explain
that closing the sefer Torah
and then reopening it to find the place again would constitute tircha
detzibbura (an unnecessary burden on the community).
The
Rema (OC 139:4) advises that when reciting the berachos
beforehand, one should look to the side. However, the Mishna Berura (139:19) suggests
that this is not ideal, as it appears that one is looking away. Instead, it is
better to close one’s eyes, or read the berachos if they are written
on the bimah.
Some follow Tosafos
(Megilla 32a), who write that ideally, one should close the sefer Torah
before reciting the berachos. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 139:12)
challenges this, asserting that the consensus among the poskim is to
leave the sefer Torah open.
