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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman קל״ו · Who is called to the Torah on Shabbat
מי הם הנקראים לספר תורה בשבת — the order of those called to the Torah on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Yom Kippur: after the Levi, the talmidei chachamim appointed over the community, then those fit to be appointed, then the sons of scholars, then the heads of the communities and all the people
סימן קל״ו · סעיף אחד
מי הם הנקראים לספר תורה בשבת
🌱 Introductory level · Beginners
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This siman teaches the order of precedence of those called to the Torah on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Yom Kippur: after the Cohen and the Levi, one first calls the talmidei chachamim appointed over the community (ת״ח הממונין על הצבור), then those fit to be appointed (הראוים למנותם פרנסים), then the sons of scholars (בני ת״ח), then the heads of the communities and all the people (ראשי כנסיות וכל העם). Hebrew text, fluent English translation and explanation of the seif, with a section of practical points.
Topic: Who is called to the Torah on Shabbat — אחר לוי, ת״ח הממונין, הראוים למנותם, בני ת״ח, ראשי כנסיות וכל העם
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן קל״ו · סעיף אחד
Compiled by: רב יוסף חיים סממה
DAAT · daattorah.com
On Shabbat, Yom Tov and Yom Kippur several people are called to the Torah. After the Cohen (1st) and the Levi (2nd), to whom are the following aliyot given? The siman sets an order of precedence based on the merit of Torah: first the talmid chacham who carries responsibility for the community, then the one fit to carry it, then the sons of scholars, then the heads of the communities and all the people. We study here at the level of principle; for actual conduct (the custom of each community), one refers to the custom and to the ruling of the Rav.
📑 Study outline
A. The seif — אחר לוי, ת״ח הממונין על הצבור, הראוים למנותם פרנסים, בני ת״ח, ראשי כנסיות וכל העם
1. Practical point — the honour due to the talmid chacham in the order of aliyot
2. Practical point — appointed (ממונה) or fit to be appointed (ראוי): the distinction
3. Practical point — the order of aliyot in practice and custom
+ Comprehension questions and going further
A. Who is called to the Torah on Shabbat — the seif
מִי הֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים לַתּוֹרָה — who is called to the Torah — a single seif that sets the order of precedence from the third aliyah on: first ת״ח הממונין על הצבור (the scholars appointed as officials over the community); then הראוים למנותם פרנסים (those fit to be appointed officials); then בני ת״ח (the sons of scholars whose fathers are appointed); then ראשי כנסיות וכל העם (the heads of the communities and the rest of the people).
בשבת וי״ט ויוה״כ קורים אחר לוי ת״ח הממונין על הצבור, ואחריהם ת״ח הראוים למנותם פרנסים על הצבור [ששואלים אותו דבר הלכה בכל מקום ואומר], ואח״כ בני ת״ח שאבותיהם ממונים על הצבור, ואח״כ ראשי כנסיות וכל העם.
The seif: on Shabbat, Yom Tov and Yom Kippur, one calls after the Levi the talmidei chachamim appointed as officials over the community; after them, the talmidei chachamim fit to be appointed officials over the community; then the sons of talmidei chachamim whose fathers are appointed over the community; then the heads of the communities and the rest of the people.
אחר לוי — the order begins after the Levi
The Cohen is called first, the Levi second: that is not the subject of this siman. It is from the next aliyah (אחר לוי) that the question arises: among the Israelites, whom does one call first? The siman answers with an order of precedence according to Torah, not according to wealth or social rank.
ת״ח הממונין על הצבור — the appointed scholars
At the head come the talmidei chachamim who are already appointed (ממונים, parnassim) over the community. They combine two titles of honour: knowledge of Torah and actual public office. On both counts, the place of honour is theirs first.
הראוים למנותם פרנסים — fit to be appointed
Next come the talmidei chachamim fit to be appointed officials, even if they are not yet. The seif describes them as those "to whom a question of halakha is put everywhere and who can answer" (ששואלים אותו דבר הלכה בכל מקום ואומר): their authority in Torah makes them fit for office. The one appointed in fact precedes the one fit in potential.
בני ת״ח, ראשי כנסיות וכל העם — the following ranks
After them: the sons of talmidei chachamim whose fathers are appointed over the community (בני ת״ח שאבותיהם ממונים על הצבור) — one honours the child in consideration of the father's merit; then the ראשי כנסיות (the heads of the communities); and finally וכל העם — the rest of the people. The order thus descends from the summit of Torah down to the whole body of worshippers.
The siman in one sentence: after the Levi, the order of those called to the Torah follows the merit of Torah — first the ת״ח הממונה, then the ראוי להתמנות, then the בני ת״ח, then the ראשי כנסיות, then כל העם.
Practical points
Point 1 — The honour due to the talmid chacham
Situation: on Shabbat, after the Cohen and the Levi, to whom is the third aliyah given when several people are present?
Conduct: the siman teaches that the place of honour belongs first to the talmid chacham responsible for the community: the order of aliyot expresses כבוד התורה, the honour of Torah, and not a worldly rank. For the application in a given community, one follows the local custom and the ruling of the Rav.
Point 2 — Appointed (ממונה) or fit to be appointed (ראוי)
Situation: two scholars are present: one holds a communal office, the other is recognized as fit but without a function. Whom does one call first?
Conduct: according to the seif, the one appointed in fact (הממונה) precedes the one who is merely fit to be appointed (הראוי). Actual office, joined to knowledge, outweighs still-potential merit. Here too, the practical application is a matter of custom and of the Rav.
Point 3 — The order of aliyot and custom
Situation: how does this order translate into the practice of communities today?
Conduct: this order is a principle of precedence; its application varies with local usages (מנהג המקום) and circumstances. The siman sets the underlying hierarchy; the concrete distribution of aliyot depends on the community's custom and on the ruling of the Rav.
Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- From which aliyah does the siman set the order of precedence, and why (אחר לוי)?
- Who is called first after the Levi, and for which two reasons (הממונה על הצבור)?
- What is the difference between the ממונה and the ראוי להתמנות, and which precedes?
- Why does one honour the בני ת״ח שאבותיהם ממונים על הצבור?
- Who comes at the end of the order (ראשי כנסיות וכל העם), and what does this hierarchy teach us?
Going further
If you wish to deepen this siman:
📖Join the khavroutha
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: for the pilpoul — the basis of the order of those called (אחר לוי), the קדימה of the ת״ח הממונה על הצבור relative to the ראוי להתמנות, and the status of the בני ת״ח וראשי כנסיות
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: for review and quick memorization
- 👑 Level 4 — Daat HaRav (the Alter Rebbe): bridge page — this siman was not written in the Choulhan Aroukh HaRav; referral to Levels 1-3 and to the Siddur of the Admour HaZaken