DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 2.09 MB)
May a Person Receive Two Aliyot in a Single Torah Reading?

A synagogue was selling Aliyot before the Torah reading on Yom Tob, and two people mistakenly purchased Aliyot for the same person. There was a Rabbi in attendance whom two different people wished to honor with an Aliya, and so one purchased Shelishi (the third Aliya), and the other, not realizing that an Aliya had already been purchased for the Rabbi, purchased Shishi (the sixth Aliya) for the same Rabbi. The question arose as to whether the Rabbi would be allowed to be called up for both Aliyot.

The Rama (Rav Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1530-1572), in Orah Haim (282), implies that once a person receives an Aliya, he should not receive a second Aliya in the same sequence of Aliyot. In the case described above, then, the Rabbi should choose which Aliya he prefers, and then allow the one who purchased the other Aliya to select somebody else to receive the honor.

However, Hacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that in certain circumstances, when there is a particular need, one may receive two Aliyot in the same Torah reading. One example is the case of a Kohen who is the only Kohen in attendance, and therefore needs to receive the first Aliya, but also observes a Yahrtzeit that day and needs to receive Maftir. In this case, Hacham Ovadia ruled, the Kohen may receive both the first Aliya and Maftir. Likewise, if a Kohen is the only Kohen in attendance at Minha on Yom Kippur, and he wishes to receive Maftir for the honor of "Maftir Yonah," he may receive both the first Aliya and Maftir.

Summary: As a general rule, one may not be called for more than one Aliya in a single Torah reading. This is allowed, however, when a particular need arises, such as in the case of a Kohen who is the only Kohen in the synagogue and observes a Yahrtzeit; the Kohen in this case may receive both the first Aliya and Maftir.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Proper Way to Hold the Sefer Torah When Receiving an Aliya
Customs Observed by One Who is Called to the Torah
Purchasing an Aliya to Express Gratitude for a Loan
Preparing the Sefer Torah in Advance; Receiving Two Aliyot to the Same Sefer Torah
Exceeding Three Aliyot on Monday or Thursday; Making Up a Missed Torah Reading
Concluding the Torah Reading on a Positive Note
Preparing Before Reading the Torah; The Different Customs When Calling Someone For an Aliya
Where May an Aliya Begin and End?
The Status of Someone Praying Outside of the Minyan
May One Recite Birkat Ha’Lebana When the Moon Becomes Concealed?
Should One Recite the Beracha of “HaNoten La’Yaef Koach”?
Explanation of the Word “Maftir”; The Preferred Aliya for a Yahrtzeit
Background and Explanation of the Maftir Reading
The Berachot Before and After the Haftara
The Bedtime Shema
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found