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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman קמ״ו · Not to speak during the reading
שלא לדבר בשעת הקריאה — the respect due to the Torah reading: not to leave and leave the séfer open (but בין גברא לגברא it is permitted); not to speak, even a word of Torah, once the reader has begun; the prohibition while the maftir reads in the נביא; and one need not stand (though some are stringent)
סימן קמ״ו · ד׳ סעיפים
שלא לדבר בשעת הקריאה
🌱 Introductory level · מתחילים
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This siman teaches the respect due to the קריאת התורה: it is forbidden to leave and leave the ספר תורה open (but בין גברא לגברא it is permitted); once the reader has begun, it is forbidden to speak, even a word of Torah; the same applies to the הפטרה while the maftir reads in the נביא; and one is not required to stand (though some are stringent). Hebrew text, fluent English translation and explanation of the ד׳ seifim, with a section of practical cases.
Topic: Not to speak during the reading — לצאת, לדבר בדברי תורה, ההפטרה, ולעמוד
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן קמ״ו · ד׳ סעיפים
Compiled by: רב יוסף חיים סממה
DAAT · daattorah.com
Our Sages taught (סוטה ל״ט.): כיון שנפתח ספר תורה אסור לספר אפילו בדבר הלכה, שנאמר «וכפתחו עמדו כל העם», ואין עמידה אלא שתיקה — once the ספר תורה is opened it is forbidden to speak, even a word of halakha, for it is said « וכפתחו עמדו כל העם » (« at its opening all the people stood »), and « עמידה » here means only silence. The siman deals with the respect due to the reading: not to leave, not to speak, and to hear from the reader's mouth. We study here at the level of principle; for personal conduct, one refers to the custom and to the ruling of the Rav.
📑 Study outline
A. The ד׳ seifim — לצאת בשעת הקריאה (séif 1), שלא לדבר אפילו בדברי תורה (séif 2), ההפטרה (séif 3), ואין צריך לעמוד (séif 4)
1. Practical case — leaving during the reading: between the aliyot (בין גברא לגברא)
2. Practical case — speaking words of Torah during the reading
3. Practical case — must one stand?
+ Comprehension questions and going further
A. Not to speak during the reading — the ד׳ seifim
שֶׁלֹּא לְדַבֵּר בִּשְׁעַת הַקְּרִיאָה — not to speak during the reading — the guiding idea is the honour (כבוד) of the Torah and attention to the public reading. From this flow four laws: one does not leave and leave the séfer open (but the pause בין גברא לגברא is permitted); once the reader has begun, one does not speak, even of דברי תורה; the same applies to the הפטרה; and while one is not required to stand, some are stringent.
Séif 1 — לצאת בשעת הקריאה: leaving during the reading
אסור לצאת ולהניח ספר תורה כשהוא פתוח, אבל בין גברא לגברא שפיר דמי.
Séif 1: it is forbidden to leave and leave the ספר תורה open; but between one aliyah and the next (בין גברא לגברא) it is permitted (שפיר דמי).
Respect for the open séfer. As long as the ספר תורה is open for the reading, one does not leave the room, abandoning it thus. But in the pause between two people called up (בין גברא לגברא) — when a break is made and the scroll is provisionally closed — שפיר דמי, there is no objection to stepping out if needed.
Séif 2 — שלא לדבר: not to speak, even of Torah
כיון שהתחיל הקורא לקרות בספר תורה אסור לספר אפילו בדברי תורה, אפילו בין גברא לגברא, ואפילו אם השלים הוא הפרשה; והנכון שבכל הפרשיות ראוי למדקדק בדבריו לכוין דעתו ולשמעם מפי הקורא.
Séif 2: once the reader has begun to read in the ספר תורה, it is forbidden to speak even of words of Torah, even between one aliyah and the next, and even if one has oneself already finished the parasha; and the נכון is that in all the parashiot the scrupulous person directs his attention and hears them from the reader's mouth.
Silence during the reading. Once the reader has begun, one no longer speaks — even of דברי תורה, even in the pause בין גברא לגברא, even if one has already read one's own portion. The Choulhan Aroukh mentions views that permit (studying quietly, if there are ten who listen, one whose Torah is his occupation); but it concludes with the נכון: the best is to direct one's attention and hear each parasha from the reader's mouth.
Séif 3 — ההפטרה: the maftir in the Navi
אסור לספר כשהמפטיר קורא בנביא עד שישלים, כמו בספר תורה.
Séif 3: it is forbidden to speak while the maftir reads in the נביא, until he finishes, just as with the ספר תורה.
The reading of the prophet extends the rule. The same respect applies to the הפטרה: as long as the maftir reads in the נביא and until he finishes, one does not speak — exactly as during the reading of the ספר תורה.
Séif 4 — עמידה בקריאה: must one stand?
אין צריך לעמוד מעומד בעת שקורין בתורה, ויש מחמירין ועומדין וכן עשה מוהר״ם.
Séif 4: one need not stand while they read in the Torah; but some are stringent and stand, and so did the מוהר״ם (the Maharam).
Standing or seated? According to the din, one is not required to stand during the Torah reading — one may be seated. The Rama adds, however, that some are stringent and stand out of respect, and that the Maharam did so. It is a practice of piety, not an obligation.
The siman in one sentence: out of respect for the reading, one does not leave and leave the séfer open (but בין גברא לגברא it is permitted); once the reader has begun, one does not speak, even of Torah, and the נכון is to hear from the reader's mouth; the same applies to the הפטרה; and one is not required to stand, though some do so out of stringency.
Practical cases
Case 1 — Leaving during the reading
Situation: he needs to step out of the synagogue during the Torah reading. When is it permitted?
Conduct: as long as the séfer is open and the reading is in progress, one does not leave, abandoning it. The permitted moment is the pause between two aliyot (בין גברא לגברא), when a break is made: then שפיר דמי. For cases of necessity, one follows one's Rav.
Case 2 — Speaking words of Torah during the reading
Situation: he wants to exchange a word of Torah with his neighbour during the reading. Is it permitted?
Conduct: once the reader has begun, it is forbidden to speak even of דברי תורה, even if one has already finished one's own portion. Some views permit (studying quietly, one שתורתו אומנותו), but the נכון — the recommended conduct — is to be silent, direct one's attention and listen to each parasha from the reader's mouth. For practice, one follows one's Rav.
Case 3 — Must one stand?
Situation: must he stay standing for the whole Torah reading?
Conduct: according to the din, אין צריך לעמוד — one is not required to stand, one may be seated. But those who are stringent stand out of respect, as did the Maharam. The same rule of silence applies also during the הפטרה. For the custom of one's community, one follows one's Rav.
Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- Why may one not leave and leave the séfer open, and when is it permitted (séif 1)?
- Once the reader has begun, may one speak a word of Torah (séif 2)?
- What does the נכון add to the views that permit (séif 2)?
- Does the rule of silence apply also to the הפטרה (séif 3)?
- Is one required to stand during the reading, and what did the Maharam do (séif 4)?
Going further
If you wish to deepen this siman:
📖Join the khavroutha
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: for the pilpoul — כבוד התורה והכוונה בקריאה, בין גברא לגברא ; אסור לספר אפילו בדברי תורה, והדעות המתירות (לגרוס בלחש, עשרה דצייתי, תורתו אומנותו) ; מעמד זכור ופרה דאורייתא, ודין העמידה
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: for review and quick memorization
- 👑 Level 4 — Daat HaRav (the Alter Rebbe): a bridge page — this siman was not written by the Admour HaZaken in his Choulhan Aroukh; a referral to Levels 1-3 and to the Siddour