1. 1. Approach the Bimah: Come up to the pulpit at the appropriate time.
   2. Share Your Hebrew Name: State your full Hebrew name (yours and your parents’) to the gabbai.
   3. Take Your Position: Stand on the right-hand side of the Torah reader.
   4. Touch the Scroll: Touch the starting place with your tzitzit (fringes) or a prayer book, then kiss it.
   5. Hold the Rollers: Hold the atzei chayim (wooden handles) and recite the opening blessing.
   6. Follow the Text: Look at the scroll and follow along with the reader.
   7. Touch the Closing Text: Touch the final spot and kiss it.
   8. Recite the Closing Blessing: Hold the atzei chayim again and recite the concluding blessing.
   9. Shift Positions: Move to the left of the Torah reader.
   10. Remain for the Next Reading: Stay on the bimah until the next aliyah finishes, then return to your seat.
   11. Receive Community Blessings: As you return, congregants will wish you “Yasher Koach”.

Hebrew Torah Blessings with Transliteration and English Translation

Use the Hebrew transliterations and English text below to confidently practice your blessings before approaching the bimah.

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.