The Aliyah: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Torah Honor

1. Come to the bimah (pulpit) at the appropriate time.
2. State your Hebrew name (yours and your parents’) clearly to the gabbi.
3. Stand on right-hand side of the Torah reader.
4. Allow the Torah reader to show you the place in the Torah and kiss your tzitzit or prayer book and place it at the spot.
5. Take hold of the wooden Torah handles (atzei hayim) and say the blessing before the reading of the Torah (see below).
6. Look on with reader.
7. At end of reading, kiss your tzitzit or prayer book and place it at the spot.
8. Take hold of the wooden handles (atzei hayim) and recite the blessing for after the reading of the Torah (see below).
9. Move to other side of reader (to the left of the Torah).
10. After the next aliyah, return to your seat.
11. People will bless you with the words “yasher koah” (May you be rich in strength) and may offer to shake your hand or kiss you.

Blessing before the reading of the Torah

Transliteration: Bar’chu et ado-nay ha-m’vorach.

Translation: Bless the L-rd who is blessed.

Congregation and Oleh say:

Transliteration: Baruch ado-nay ha-m’vorach l’olam va-ed.

Translation: Blessed be the L-rd who is blessed for all eternity.

Oleh continues:

Transliteration: Baruch atah ado-nay elo-haynu melech ha-olam, asher bachar banu mikol ha-amim, v’natan lanu et toroto. Baruch atah ado-nay, notayn ha-torah.

Translation: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among all the nations and given us His Torah. Blessed are You L-rd, who gives the Torah.

Blessing after the reading of the Torah

Transliteration: Baruch atah ado-nay elo-haynu melech ha-olam, asher natan lanu torat emet, v’cha-yay olam nata b’tochaynu. Baruch atah ado-nay , notayn ha-torah.

Translation: Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has given us the Torah of truth and planted eternal life within us. Blessed are You L-rd, who gives the Torah.