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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman רפ״ב · 7 Seifim
Krias haTorah and Maftir on Shabbos — to discover and understand
סימן רפ״ב
קְרִיאַת הַתּוֹרָה וְהַמַּפְטִיר
🌱 Introduction Level · Beginners
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First approach to Siman רפ״ב: complete Hebrew text of the Mechaber, fluent English translation, pedagogical explanations of the halachic concepts, modern practical cases and synthesis.
Subject: Krias haTorah and Maftir on Shabbos
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן רפ״ב (7 seifim)
Compiled by: רב יוסף חיים סממה
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 7 seifim of the Mechaber
2. General background: why this siman, what is the underlying question?
3. Key halachic concepts of this siman
4. The seifim in detail — one by one
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
6. The position of the Rema — Ashkenazi vs Sephardi differences
7. Modern practical cases
8. Practical synthesis and rules to remember
9. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Siman רפ״ב contains 7 seifim of the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo) which codify the halachos relating to krias haTorah and maftir on Shabbos.
Seif 1 — 7 aliyos on Shabbos, additions permitted
קריאת התורה והמפטיר בשבת. ובו ז סעיפים:
מוֹצִיאִין סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה וְקוֹרִים בּוֹ שִׁבְעָה. וְאִם רָצָה לְהוֹסִיף — מוֹסִיף. הגה : והוא הדין ביו״ט מותר להוסיף על הקרואים (רמב״ם פי״ב מהל' תפלה ותשובת מהר״ם וב״י). ויש אומרים דביו״ט אין להוסיף (ר״ן פרק הקורא) — וכן נהגו במדינות אלו, מלבד בשמחת תורה שמוסיפין הרבה. גם בכל יו״ט אין המפטירין ממנין הקרואים, כדלקמן.
Translation: On Shabbos morning, we take out the sefer Torah and call up 7 aliyos (those called up to read). If one wishes, one may add beyond the 7. Hagaha (Rema): also permitted on Yom Tov (Rambam, Hilchos Tefillah 12; teshuvas Maharam; Beis Yosef), but the opinion of the Ran (Perek HaKorei, followed in Ashkenaz): no additions except on Simchas Torah. Separately — and this applies on every Yom Tov, regardless of the debate on additions above — the maftir likewise does not count in the number of aliyos, as explained further on.
What this seif says:
- Seven called up on Shabbos morning, and one may add if one wishes.
- Rema: on Yom Tov too, per the Rambam and the Maharam — but the Ran forbids it, וכן נהגו במדינות אלו, except on Simchas Torah.
- A separate rule, valid on every Yom Tov regardless of the custom followed on additions: the maftir likewise does not count among those called.
Seif 2 — Multiple olim may read the same verses
מֻתָּר לִקְרוֹת עוֹלִים הַרְבֵּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁקָּרָא זֶה מַה שֶּׁקָּרָא זֶה — וְחוֹזֵר וּמְבָרֵךְ. אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם. הגה : ויש אוסרים (מרדכי סוף מגילה) — וכן נהגו במדינות אלו, חוץ מבשמחת תורה שנהגו להרבות בקרואים, ונוהגים כסברא ראשונה.
Translation: permitted (Mechaber) to call up multiple olim on the same verses — each recites the brachos anew. No issue of "bracha levatala" (since we re-read for their honor). Hagaha (Rema, Ashkenaz): some forbid — Ashkenazi minhag: do not repeat the same verses. Exception: Simchas Torah, where the custom is to add many olim — and then we follow the first opinion (the Mechaber's).
What this seif says:
- Mechaber: one may call several olim on the same verses, each repeating the brachos — אין בכך כלום.
- Rema: others forbid it, and such is the custom of these lands — except on Simchas Torah, where the called are multiplied and the first view is followed.
Seif 3 — Who can be an oleh: women, minors, etc.
הַכֹּל עוֹלִים לְמִנְיַן שִׁבְעָה — אֲפִילוּ אִשָּׁה וְקָטָן שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לְמִי מְבָרְכִין. אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: אִשָּׁה לֹא תִּקְרָא בְּצִיבּוּר מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד הַצִּיבּוּר. הגה : ואלו דוקא מצטרפים למנין הקרואים — אבל לא שיהיו כולם נשים או קטנים (ר״ן וריב״ש). ודין עבד כנעני כדין אשה. אבל אם אמו מישראל — מותר לעלות (הגהות מיי' פי״ב מהל' תפלה). ואסור לקרות בראש מגולה. ואין איסור לקרות עם הארץ נכבד ועשיר וגדול הדור לפני תלמיד חכם — כי אין זה בזיון לת״ח, רק כבוד לתורה שמתכבדת באנשים גדולים (א״ז). וממזר מותר לעלות לס״ת (מהר״א מפרא״ג). וע״ל סי' קל״ו מסדר הקרואים.
Translation: all can be aliyos — including women and minors (who understand to whom the bracha is addressed). HOWEVER, Chazal said: a woman does not read in public — מפני כבוד הציבור (for the honor of the tzibbur). Hagaha (Rema): women/minors may complete the 7, but not all be women/minors (Ran; Rivash). Eved kena'ani = like a woman. If the mother is Jewish — may go up (Hagahos Maimoniyos). No bare head. Possible to call up a respected wealthy am ha'aretz before a talmid chacham — this is kavod for the Torah, which is honored through great men (Or Zarua). A mamzer may go up (Mahara of Prague). See siman 136 for the order of those called up.
What this seif says:
- All count towards the seven — even a woman, even a minor who knows to Whom the bracha is addressed.
- But the Sages said a woman does not read in public, מפני כבוד הציבור.
- Rema: they complete the count; they cannot make it up on their own.
- Rema: one does not read bareheaded; and calling an honoured layman before a Torah scholar is no affront — it is an honour to the Torah that it be borne by men of standing.
Seif 4 — Minhag: 7 olim + separate maftir
נוֹהֲגִים לִקְרוֹת שִׁבְעָה — לִגְמוֹר עִמָּהֶם הַפָּרָשָׁה — וְאוֹמֵר קַדִּישׁ. וְחוֹזֵר וְקוֹרֵא עִם הַמַּפְטִיר מַה שֶּׁקָּרָא הַשְּׁבִיעִי. הגה : וכן נוהגים בימים טובים שאין מפטיר ממנין הקרואים. אבל בחול שאסור להוסיף — השלישי הוא מפטיר. וביום שמוציאין ב' ספרים או ג' — המפטיר קורא באחרונה. וקטן יכול לקרות בפרשת המוספין או בד' פרשיות שמוסיפין באדר, וכן נוהגים (ר״ן ומרדכי פ״ב דמגילה), אע״פ שיש חולקים ואומרים קדיש קודם שעולה המפטיר, ואין חילוק בזה בין הוסיפו על מנין הקרואים או לא, ובין מוציאין ס״ת א' או ג' (ב״י בשם הר״ר ישעיה והרא״ש ורבי ירוחם).
Translation: minhag — 7 olim complete the parsha, then Kaddish, then the maftir rereads what the 7th read. So 8 olim total on Shabbos. Hagaha (Rema): same on Yom Tov (maftir not counted in the number of aliyos). But during the week (Monday/Thursday) — no additions, so the 3rd is the maftir. If 2 or 3 sifrei Torah are taken out: maftir reads in the last. A minor may be maftir of the musaf reading or of the 4 parshiyos of Adar — such is the custom (Ran; Mordechai), even though some disagree and say Kaddish before the maftir goes up, with no distinction whether or not olim were added, or whether 1 or 3 sifrei Torah are taken out (Beis Yosef in the name of R' Yeshaya, the Rosh, and Rabbeinu Yerucham).
What this seif says:
- The custom: seven complete the parashah, then Kaddish, then the maftir rereads what the seventh read.
- Rema: likewise on Yom Tov, the maftir outside the count; but on a weekday, where one does not add, the third is the maftir.
- Rema: when two or three sifrei Torah are taken out, the maftir reads from the last; and a minor may read the parashas hamusafin or the four parshiyos of Adar.
Seif 5 — Maftir = one of the olim already called up
אִם לֹא נִמְצָא מִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ לְהַפְטִיר אֶלָּא אֶחָד מֵאוֹתָם שֶׁעָלוּ לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה — וּכְבָר אָמַר שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר קַדִּישׁ אַחַר קְרִיאַת הַפָּרָשָׁה — זֶה שֶׁרוֹצֶה לְהַפְטִיר צָרִיךְ לַחֲזוֹר וְלִקְרוֹת, וִיבָרֵךְ עַל קְרִיאָתוֹ תְּחִילָּה וְסוֹף. הגה : אבל אם לא אמר קדיש — יפטיר מי שעלה לשביעי, אם יודע. ואם יש אחרים שיודעים להפטיר — לא יפטיר מי שעלה כבר.
Translation: only one who already went up knows how to do maftir — and the chazzan has already said Kaddish after the parsha. Solution: the one who wants to do maftir must re-read the portion + recite the brachos before and after. Hagaha: if Kaddish was not yet said — the 7th himself may do the maftir (if he knows). If another reader is available — that is preferable.
What this seif says:
- If the only one able to say the haftarah has already been called, and Kaddish has been said: he must read again, with a bracha before and after.
- Rema: but if Kaddish has not yet been said, the seventh himself says the haftarah — if he knows it.
- Rema: and if others are able, it is not for one already called to do it.
Seif 6 — Chazzan's error: Kaddish too early
אִם טָעָה שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר וְסִיֵּם הַפָּרָשָׁה עִם הַשִּׁשִּׁי וְאָמַר קַדִּישׁ — אֵין צָרִיךְ לִקְרוֹת עוֹד אַחֵר. אֶלָּא יִקְרָא עִם הַמַּפְטִיר מַה שֶּׁקָּרָא עִם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. דְּקַיְמָא לָן: מַפְטִיר עוֹלֶה לְמִנְיַן שִׁבְעָה.
Translation: if the chazzan finished the parsha with the 6th and said Kaddish too early — no need to call a separate 7th. The maftir reads what the 6th read, and he counts as the 7th. Source: מפטיר עולה למנין שבעה (= the maftir is included in the count of 7).
What this seif says:
- The chazan erred, finished the parashah with the sixth and said Kaddish: no one further is called.
- The maftir will read what the sixth read, and the count holds.
- The principle that allows it is named: מפטיר עולה למנין שבעה.
Seif 7 — Verses skipped in the reading
קָרָא הַפָּרָשָׁה בִּתְפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית בְּשַׁבָּת וְדִילֵּג פָּסוּק אֶחָד — חוֹזֵר וְקוֹרֵא הוּא וּשְׁנַיִם עִמּוֹ. אֲפִילוּ הִפְטִיר וְהִתְפַּלֵּל מוּסָף — חוֹזֵר וְקוֹרֵא.
Translation: if it is discovered afterwards that a verse was skipped in the reading — we call up 3 people (the reader + 2) to re-read the section containing that verse. Even if the haftarah was already read and musaf davened — we go back and read! Reason: the mitzva of krias haTorah is essential, not an ornament.
Overview of the 7 seifim: the siman codifies the complete structure of krias haTorah on Shabbos:
• Seifim 1-2: number of aliyos (7 minimum, additions permitted Mechaber / contested Rema)
• Seif 3: qualifications of olim (women/minors/etc.)
• Seifim 4-6: maftir/haftarah structure (timing of Kaddish, maftir = 7th or additional)
• Seif 7: remedy for a skipped verse — even belatedly
• Seifim 1-2: number of aliyos (7 minimum, additions permitted Mechaber / contested Rema)
• Seif 3: qualifications of olim (women/minors/etc.)
• Seifim 4-6: maftir/haftarah structure (timing of Kaddish, maftir = 7th or additional)
• Seif 7: remedy for a skipped verse — even belatedly
What this seif says:
- A verse was skipped at the shacharis reading: one returns to read it, he and two with him.
- And this holds even if the haftarah was said and Musaf prayed: אפילו הפטיר והתפלל מוסף חוזר וקורא.
- The Torah reading cannot be made up later — which is what justifies breaking the order of the service.
2. General background
Krias haTorah on Shabbos morning
The public reading of the Torah is an institution attributed to Moshe Rabbeinu (Megilla 32a). On Shabbos morning, we call up at least 7 aliyos — the highest of any day of the year. Monday and Thursday: 3 aliyos. Rosh Chodesh and Chol HaMoed: 4. Yom Tov: 5. Yom Kippur: 6. Shabbos: 7. The greater the kedusha, the more aliyos we add.
The fundamental question: how is the public reading of Shabbos structured? Who can go up (oleh)? How does the maftir relate to the regular aliyos? What is done in case of errors (skipped verses, Kaddish too early)?
Place in Hilchos Shabbos
Siman רפ״ב follows 281 (zemiros/Modim) and precedes 283 (why two sifrei Torah are not taken out) + 284 (haftarah). It is the central siman of the Shabbos morning liturgy.
3. Key halachic concepts
Concept 1 — שִׁבְעָה עוֹלִים (7 aliyos): Shabbos is the only day with 7 aliyos. Source: Mishnah Megilla 4:2. Different days = different numbers of aliyos (correlated to the kedusha of the day).
Concept 2 — מַפְטִיר (Maftir): "the one who concludes" — the 8th person called up on Shabbos. Reads the final verses of the parsha (often the same as the 7th), then reads the haftarah (Nevi'im). Historical origin: in times of persecution, reading the prophets replaced the Torah.
Concept 3 — מַפְטִיר עוֹלֶה לְמִנְיַן שִׁבְעָה: "the maftir counts in the 7" — if the chazzan accidentally finished the parsha with the 6th and said Kaddish, the maftir fills in as the 7th (seif 6). But in normal minhag, we call up 7 aliyos plus a maftir (= 8 olim).
Concept 4 — כְּבוֹד הַצִּיבּוּר (Honor of the tzibbur): the reason a woman does not read publicly — even though she is halachically qualified (s.3). A "sociological" concept that codifies the minhag.
Concept 5 — חוֹזֵר וְקוֹרֵא (We go back and read): if a verse is skipped — even after haftarah, Musaf — we go back and read the parsha with at least 3 people (s.7). Emphasizes the primacy of the mitzva of krias haTorah.
4. Synoptic view of the 7 seifim
| Seif | Subject | Halacha |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 aliyos Shabbos, additions permitted | Mechaber: additions permitted. Rema: not on YT except Simchas Torah. |
| 2 | Multiple olim on same verses | Mechaber: permitted. Rema: forbidden, except Simchas Torah. |
| 3 | Who can go up | Women/minors halachically OK, but minhag restricts. No bare head. |
| 4 | Structure: 7 + Kaddish + maftir | Minhag: 8 aliyos on Shabbos. Maftir not counted on YT/Shabbos. |
| 5 | Maftir = already an oleh | If Kaddish already said: must re-read + brachos. Otherwise: 7th may be maftir. |
| 6 | Kaddish too early after 6th | Maftir = 7th (משלים). |
| 7 | Skipped verse | Re-read parsha with 3 olim. Even after haftarah/Musaf. |
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
The Mishnah Berurah of Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan (Chofetz Chaim) has 36 entries on this siman. Here are the first — to better understand the meaning of the seifim:
משנה ברורה (א) — (א) מוציאין וכו' - יש לומר בריך שמיה בפתיחת הארון בין בשבת ובין בחול. והנותן ס״ת והמקבלו צריך שיהא בימין ואפילו אם הוא איטר יד אין לשנות בזה:
משנה ברורה (ב) — (ב) וקורין בו וכו' - והיא מצוה מד״ס והיא תקנה קדומה ממשה רבינו ע״ה וכמ״ש בסימן קל״ה עי״ש במ״ב:
משנה ברורה (ג) — (ג) שבעה - הנה בזמן המשנה היה המנהג שהראשון שבקרואים היה מברך הברכה לפניה והאחרון היה מברך הברכה לאחריה והאמצעים כולן היו יוצאין בברכתן ואח״כ בזמן הגמרא התקינו שכל אחד יברך לפניה ולאחריה כמו שנהוג היום:
For the full text of all 36 entries, see Sefaria: Mishnah Berurah 282.
6. The position of the Rema — 4 major הגהות
- Hagaha s.1: Yom Tov — no additions beyond the number (Ashkenaz). Exception: Simchas Torah. Maftir not counted.
- Hagaha s.2: In Ashkenaz, we do not call up multiple olim on the same verses. Exception: Simchas Torah.
- Hagaha s.3: Women/minors are only completing, never "all the olim." Eved kena'ani = like a woman. If the mother is Jewish, OK. No bare head. Mamzer permitted.
- Hagaha s.4: Standard minhag on YT (maftir not counted); during the week, the 3rd is maftir. If 2 or 3 sifrei Torah: maftir in the last.
7. Modern practical cases
| Situation | Application |
|---|---|
| Ashkenazi shul — who is called up? | 7 aliyos + 1 maftir = 8 total. The maftir also reads the haftarah. |
| Sephardi shul — may more than 7 be called up? | Mechaber: yes. Sephardi minhag: generally 7 except for special occasions (bar mitzvah, Simchas Torah). |
| Liberal shul calling up women | Halachically: Chazal said "no" for כבוד הציבור (s.3). Orthodox do not permit. |
| Bar mitzvah — the bachur does the reading and maftir | Permitted (a minor may do maftir). The bachur often reads everything + maftir. |
| Skipped verse discovered after Musaf | S.7 — re-read the parsha with 3 olim. Even belatedly. |
| Kaddish said after the 6th by mistake | S.6 — maftir = 7th (reads the missing verses). |
| Oleh who cannot read (am ha'aretz) | The ba'al kore reads for him — the oleh holds and recites brachos. Standard modern practice. |
8. Practical synthesis of the siman
The 7 rules to remember from Siman רפ״ב:
- 7 aliyos on Shabbos minimum. Mechaber allows additions; Rema (Ashkenaz) restricts.
- Do not repeat the same verses (Ashkenaz) except on Simchas Torah.
- Women halachically eligible but Chazal: "כבוד הציבור" — not in practice.
- Shabbos minhag: 7 aliyos + Kaddish + maftir (= 8 olim).
- Maftir = already an oleh: must re-read + brachos if Kaddish already said.
- Chazzan's error: maftir fills in (משלים) if Kaddish too early.
- Skipped verse: re-read parsha even after Musaf.
9. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- How many aliyos on Shabbos? Why this number?
- What is the dispute Mechaber/Rema about additions on Yom Tov?
- Halachically, may a woman be an oleh? Why not in practice?
- What is maftir? Does it count in the 7?
- What is done if the chazzan said Kaddish too early (after the 6th)?
- What is done if a verse was skipped — discovered after Musaf?
- Why may a minor be a maftir?
To go further
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