APPENDIX A
THE RITUAL OF THE MITSVOT
PREFACE
THESE notes give an account of the ritual practices observed in the Bevis Marks and Lauderdale Road Synagogues of the London Congregation, which are a direct heritage from our ancient past. Where there are differences between the practices of the two synagogues, they describe those which are followed in the Lauderdale Road Synagogue. Some of the variations practised in Bevis Marks, however, are also noticed.
Any attempt to reduce a body of oral tradition to writing is dangerous, for it may come to be regarded as a code with binding effect. Then any deviation from the written word is regarded as unorthodoxy and the oral tradition tends to wither and become fossilized.
It follows that these notes should be regarded as a guide rather than as a ruler. In general, variations in other Sephardi synagogues have not been noted, though some of those at Bevis Marks have; but it is not intended to suggest that where others diverge from the practice of Lauderdale Road they are wrong, still less that they should abandon their own Minhag in these matters and adopt ours. It is hoped that if these considerations are borne in mind this work will be of use to Parnasim and others charged with the care of the ritual in our own and other Sephardi synagogues, and of interest to them and to those many others who love our ancient ceremonial and draw from it spiritual encouragement and refreshment.
PORTAS
(Opening of the Ark)
SABBATHS, FESTIVALS, AND NEW YEAR (MORNING SERVICE)
The gentleman to whom this Mitsvah is given leaves his seat on Sabbaths and on Festivals immediately after the announcements of the A4itsvot and proceeds to the Ark. Before ascending the steps of the Ark he should bow towards it. (The Congregation bow towards the Echal at the words Baruch Ha Makom . He should open the Ark while the Hazan chants Kohanecha He then opens the curtain, takes the Yad (pointer) from the Sepher in which it is resting, and moves to the left side of the Ark. He waits there until the Sepher or Sepharim to be carried are removed, then goes behind them a little to the right side of the Ark, takes one step down, and hands the Yad to the Parnas bowing at the same time.
Then he inserts the Yad into the band of the first Sepher, adjusts, if necessary, the position of the Sepher or Sepharim, draws the curtain, closes the doors, and returns to his seat. He bows to the Hazan who is standing by, to the presiding Parnas, and to others who bow to him.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
On Simhat Torah the Hatan Torah opens the Ark on entering the synagogue, and it is likewise opened by the Hatan Bereshit on Shabbat Bereshit. The Ark remains open during the whole of these services except for the Priestly Blessing on Simhat Torah, when the Hatan Torah closes the doors only-not the curtain-shortly before, and opens it after, the Blessing.
The Ark-opener leaves it open and returns to it as the Congregation sings L mangn Dangat kol ha-ares in order to receive the Yad and adjust the Sepharim, but he leaves it open thereafter. Further, it is closed by the Hatan at the end of Kaddeesh Titkabbal in the Shahrit service, to be reopened by the gentleman given the Mitsvah of Portas. The Ark-opener leaves it open and returns to it as the Congregation sings Yimloch for the second time, in order to receive the Yad and adjust the Sepharim, but he leaves it open thereafter. At the conclusion of the service, he (and not the Hatan) returns to the Ark and closes it.
closes it at the word Titkabal, and returns to his seat.
On each of the days of Succot the Ark is reopened for the Hoshanganot. After the Amidah of Musaph. This again is a separate Mitsvah, and is after the Amidah of Musaph. This is announced with the other Mitsvot before the Law is taken out. The Ark is opened before the Hoshanganot are begun, and the opener goes to his seat. He returns to the Ark at the beginning of the passage and closes it at the end of the Kaddish that follows.
On Hosha-'ana Rabba, when the Mitsvot for the Hoshanganot are announced at the end of the Musaph service, the procedure for opening the Ark is exactly as on a Festival morning, save that the Yad is not taken out and that the Ark is left open until the end of the Hoshanganot.
KIPPUR
The Ark is opened on six occasions during Kippur:
i. On Kal Nidre night when the Gabay of the Congregation has an ex-officio right to this Mitsvah. He goes up to the Ark as on a Festival morning. The Yad is not taken out, and the Ark is left open. The Gabay returns to the Ark on the second singing of Yimloch, by the Congregation, and leaves it open. He closes the Ark at the conclusion of the service while the last line of Yigdal is being sung.
Blessing. The doors are reopened when the Cohanim return to their seats. (While the Cohanim are pronouncing the Priestly Blessing from before the Ark, the Congregation should stand in their places in the normal way; they should not turn their backs to the Cohanim and the Ark, nor stand at a half-turn away from that direction. To do so is an act of discourtesy, and never was the practice of our Congregation; indeed, we are taught that the Congregation should turn their faces towards the Cohanim, but look downwards.) The curtain of the Ark is drawn and the doors closed during the Kaddish which follows the Selihot, at the word Titkabal.
3. For the reading of the Morning Parashah the procedure for opening the Ark is exactly as on a Festival morning, save that the Ark is left open. It is closed when the Sepharim are returned.
4. For the Repetition of the Musaph the Mitsvah is announced with the Mitsvot which precede the taking out of the Law. The Ark is opened before the Repetition of the Amidah of Musaph is commenced, and thereafter the procedure is as in @ 2 above. The Ark is finally closed with the last words ofAdon Olam..
6. For the Nengila Service this Mitsvah, which by long-established usage belongs to the senior Elder, is announced with the Mitsvot for Minha. The Elder who opens the Ark proceeds thereto during the repetition by the Hazan of the last verse El Norah Alilah. The closing of the Ark during the Priestly Blessing is as in paragraph 2 above. The Ark is finally closed after the Teru'ah Gedola at the end of the service.
SEPHER-CARRYING
Those given this . Mitsvah proceed to the Ark as the Congregation begins to chant Barooch Ha-MakomThe Sepher should be carried on the right arm, the right hand taking the weight by holding the wooden rings below the parchment: the cloak to be left free. The bearer should take his Sepher out of the Ark as he finds it and without turning it round in his arms. The Sepher-bearers stand facing the congregation until Rommemoo is begun. (In the Lauderdale Road Synagogue the Sepher-bearer, when there is only one, should stand centrally on the second step of the flight leading down from the Ark. When there is more than one Sepher the first bearer should stand on the third or fourth step, but still centrally.)
The Sepharim then proceed to the Tebah at ordinary walking pace, the bearers there taking the seats provided for them, with the first Sepher on the right and the others in order. As soon as the first Sepher is divested of its bells, cloak, and band, its bearer takes it forward, places it on the reading-desk, and then returns to his seat on the Tebah.
If more than one Sepher has been taken out, the others are in their turn brought forward by their bearers and laid on the reading-desk as the Congregation says Elohim Tzabaot As soon as the next in order has been placed there, the bearer of the preceding one removes his Sepher, and steps backwards to his seat so that it can be re-vested. He must be careful not to lift it from the desk until its successor has been laid there.
On Simhat Torah the procedure is exceptional. The first two Sepharim are not withdrawn until the fourth has been laid on the reading-desk, when they and the third are removed together. If only one Sepher is being used, it is taken from the reading-desk as Eloheem Tsebaot is begun. The Sepher is brought forward by its bearer and handed to the Haham, or, in his absence, to the officiating Hazan for the Prayers for the Royal Family the Congregation, and Israel. The bearer steps back until the Prayer for Israel is finished when he goes forward, relieves the officiant of the Sepher, and steps backwards to his seat, which he resumes.
Bearers of additional Sepharim remain seated during these prayers.
The Sepharim are brought forward by their bearers at the words Debar Yom B'Yomo and ranged by them side by side at the reading-desk. The Scrolls may be placed upright on the desk instead of being held on the arm. They remain there until the congregation starts Mizmor L'David. Then, headed by the first, and in due order, they go down from the Tebah (in Lauderdale Road) by the left-hand steps, turn left, go round behind it, and then along the right-hand aisle, to the Ark. In Bevis Marks the procession goes down the right-hand steps and directly along the right-hand aisle to the Ark. Sepharim are replaced in the Ark in the spaces from which they were respectively removed, with the last words of Mizmor L'David They are put in with the silver plate on each facing the wall of the Ark. After replacing the Sepher in the Ark, the Sepher-bearer, without turning his back to the open Ark, walks to the first step and stands on the left-hand side. After the closing of the Ark he bows to it and returns to his seat, bowing to the Presiding Parnas.
Sabbaths when three Sepharim are taken out. On three Sabbaths three Sepharim are taken out, viz. Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Hanuccah, Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Shekalim, and Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Hahodesh. From the first Sepher the Parashah of the week 's 'read in six, instead of the usual seven, portions. Kaddish is not recited, and the Sepher is not removed; but the second Sepher is brought immediately to the reading-desk and placed by the side of the first, while Eloheem Tsebaot is chanted. After the proper portion has been read from the second Sepher, Kaddeesh is recited. Eloheem Tsebaot is again intoned, during which the third Sepher is placed on the reading-desk and the first two Sepharim are removed. After the reading from the third Sepher, Kaddeesh and Eloheem Tsebaot are said again. The procedure which follows is the same as on Sabbaths and Festivals when less than three Sepharim are taken out-except that after putting the Sepher Torah in the Ark, the first Sepher-bearer, without turning his back to the open Ark, walks to the first step and stands on the left-hand side. The second Sepher-bearer walks to the first step and stands on the right-hand side of the Ark. The third Sepher-bearer walks to the second step and stands on the left-hand side of the Ark, etc. After the closing of the Ark, the Sepher-bearers bow to the Ark and return to their seats, bowing to the Presiding Parnas.
Variations
On Kal Nidre night and on Hoshangana Rabba the Sepher-bearers proceed as above, taking care to space themselves out while they are waiting to proceed to the Tebah, and to set off in their right order. When they reach the Tebah they at once group themselves round the reading-desk and remain standing there until they return to the Ark.
For the Hoshanganot on the Festival of Succot one Sepher is taken out of the Ark when it is opened after the Repetition of the Amidah of Musaph, by the gentleman whose name has been given out when the Mitsvot are announced before the Law is read. This Sepher, accompanied by the Parnas Presidente, carrying his Lulab and Etrog, is brought straight to the reading-desk by the steps on the bearer's right as he comes from the Ark, and is taken directly back after the Hoshanganot, when the Officiant reaches the paragraph beginningkakatoob proceeding by the steps on the right as he faces the Ark. On the Sabbath no Sepher is taken out and no circuit is made.
For Minha on Kippur one Sepher is taken out. The procedure is as prescribed above on page 42, paragraph 5. After the concluding blessing of the Haphtarah, Hashcabot are made, and Offerings announiced. Then the Officiant begins yehalleloo and as he does this the Sepher-bearer rises and takes the Sepher down the steps on the right of the Tebah and heads the procession back to the Ark, setting the usual slow pace. The SePher should be replaced as the Congregation finishes the words Vain kemanagasecha with the plate facing the wall of the Ark, and the bearer at once bows to the Parnas and goes to his seat.
For Minha on Sabbath the Mitsvot are not announced, but the following Mitsvot are performed by the same persons (if present) to whom they were allotted in the Morning Service: Portas Accompanhador, Bells, Band, and Levantar. The Parnas stands in front of the Banca while the Ark is opened and the Sepher is taken out, and follows the Sepher (after the Accompanhador) to the Tebah. The Sepher-bearer goes to the Ark while V'Ani is being sung by the Congregation for the second time. The procedure is then as set forth in the first three paragraphs of 'Sepher-carrying" PP- 42 and 43. The Sepher is withdrawn from the reading-desk as the Officiant commences Mizmore Shir L'Yom Ha'Shabbat. Hashcabot are then recited. As the officiant begins Yehallelloo the Sepher-bearer rises and carries the Sepher down the steps on the right of the Tebah and heads the procession back to the Ark; the further proceedings are as described in the preceding paragraph.
[Note: Hashcabot are not recited on the Sabbath of the Middle Days of Passover and Tabernacles.]
THE RITUAL OF THE MITSVOT
ACCOMPANHAR
The gentleman who has this Mitsvah leaves his seat, proceeds towards the Ark, and takes his stand at the left-hand side of the space before the Ark. He remains there until the procession to the Tebah sets out, when he takes his place behind the Sepher.
On reaching the Tebah, he remains standing until the Cohen (or other person called first to the Sepher) completes the first Sepher blessing, when he (the Cohen) turns round and bows to the Accompanhador, who returns the bow, bows to the Parnas, receives his bow, and then takes a seat on the Tebah.
When the Sepher returns, he takes his place immediately after the
Sepher, and stands to the left of the open space before the Ark untilthe latter has been closed, when he bows to the Parnas and returns to his seat.
BELLS, BAND, AND MANTLE
I. BELLS
First or only Sepher. The person given this Mitsvah goes to the Tebah after the Hazan and Parnas have proceeded to the Ark. As soon as the Sepher-bearer has seated himself on the Tebah, he takes the bells off the Sepher and gives them to the Levantador. (On reaching the Tebah in the Sepher-procession, the Presiding Parnas, having given the Yad to the officiating Ijazan, proceeds straight to his position at the side of the reading-desk. One of the bells is then handed to him by the Levantador, which he places on the stand provided for it on the Tebah enclosure. The other bell is given by the Levantador to the officiating Hazan, who similarly places it on the stand.) Then he removes the silver plate, places it over his arm, removes the mantle, and keeps both silver plate and mantle over his arm while he helps to hold the Sepher in a horizontal position so that the person removing the band can perform his Mitsvah. Then he drapes the mantle over the stand on the left-hand side, places the silver plate on one of the bell-stands, and resumes his seat.
He returns to the Tebah as the Sepher is removed from the desk, and helps to support it while the band is being put on; he then fetches and replaces mantle, plate, and bells in that order. Then he bows to the Presiding Parnas and resumes his seat.
Second and other additional Sepharim (one goes up for this Mitsvah while the last portion of the Parashah in the preceding Scroll is being read). The procedure is the same as for the first Sepher, save that as there is no Levantador to whom to hand the bells, they, as well as the silver plate, must be placed by the Mitsvah-holder upon the bell-stands. When the band has been removed, the mantle is replaced temporarily over the Sepher, and the Mitsvah-holder sits on the Tebah until the reader says Eloheem tsebaot, when the mantle is finally removed.
Variations. See at end of 'Band'.
2. BAND
The holder of this Mitsvah for the first Sepher goes to the Tebah after the Hazan and Parnas have proceeded to the Ark. When more than one Sepher is out, the holder of the Mitsvah of 'band' (or 'desenfaixar') for the second and other Sepharim proceeds to the Tebah during the last chapter of the preceding Parashah. In each case, as soon as the mantle has been taken off and the Sepher placed in position, he unties the bow in the band, and then unrolls the band, taking care to gather the ribbons and the band in his hands as he unrolls them. He takes this with him to his seat, and re-rolls it in readiness for his return, beginning at the ribbon end. He returns to the Tebah while Eloheem Tsebaot is being said. When the Sepher has been removed from the reading-desk and is in position for re-vesting, he inserts the end of the band in the Sepher and rolls it tightly round it, tying the ribbons at the end in a bow. He then bows to the Presiding Parnas and resumes his seat.
Variations
On Simhat Torah and Shabbat Bereshit the persons who have had these Mitsvot walk in the procession of the Sepharim on their return to the Ark. They come up to the Tebah to be marshalled for this during the singing of the second Yimloch
LEVANTAR
(Elevation of the Law)
This Mitsvah is reserved for members of the Society of Levantadores,
who are elected by the Elders. The Levantador goes to the Tebah after the Hazan and Parnas have proceeded to the Ark. He receives the bells from the person holding the Mitsvah of 'bells' and hands one bell to the Parnas Presidente and the other to the officiating Ijazan. When the Sepher has been laid on the reading-desk, he opens it by unrolling an equal distance to the right and the left, waits until the officiating Ijazan and the Parnas Presidente have put on the bells, and then raises the Sepher until it is in a perpendicular position with the bottom of the parchment slightly above the level of his eyes. At least three columns must be showing, but it is the practice to show part of five or seven. The Levantador then completes a slow turn to the left, timing his turn so that the Congregation in all parts of the synagogue have ample time to see the text and that he may replace the Sepher on the reading-desk when the Congregation reach the words Kehilot Yangakob. The officiating Hazan and Parnas Presidente remove the bells when the Sepher has been laid on the reading-desk, and the Levantador closes the Scroll by rolling it up equally with both hands, and then moves it across the desk to the Parnas Presidente for him to cover. He then bows to the Parnas Presidente and returns to his seat.
BEING CALLED TO THE LAW
He who is called up should, after completing his opening blessing, turn round and bow to the person to whom the previous portion was read, who will be standing behind him and will then resume his seat. In the case of the Cohen or Israelite who is called up first this bow will be made to the Accompanhador. On completing his concluding blessing after the reading of his portion, the Mitsvah-holder will bow to the officiating Hazan and then step a few paces back and wait for the next to be called up to approach the Sepher, complete his opening blessing, and turn and bow. He returns this bow, bows to the Parnas Presidente, and returns to his seat by the steps opposite to those by which he came up.
Variations
Should the officiating Hazan or the Parnas Presidente be called to the Law, the last holder of that Mitsvah will take the place at the reading-desk of the Hazan or Parnas as the case may be, standing, however, on the left of the Hazan if the latter is called. He then steps back and waits until the next person called to the Law has completed his opening blessing and bowed to him before returning to his seat.
In the case of a boy being called up Bar Mitsvah, the person called up to the previous portion will remain on the Tebah behind the boy until the latter has said the special Prayer and completed his opening blessing, and will then bow to the Parnas Presidente and return to his seat.
If the Maphtir is not yet Bar Mitsvah, he does not bow to the gentleman called up before him until he has had read to him the Maphtir's portion and said the concluding blessing. The gentleman must be careful to remain behind the Maphtir until this concluding blessing has been said
PROCESSION OF SEPHARIM ON THE EVE OF SIMHAT TORAH
After Kaddeesh Titkabbal the names of those who are to open the Ark and carry the Sepharim are announced. Eight Sepharim are takenout, one of which is kept stationary on the Tebah. The first three Hakkapha are carried by the Haham, Hatan Bereshit. The seven Sepharim make seven circuits, between each circuit the bearers change, but the original bearers return to their Sepharim for the last circuit.
Additional Sepharim may be taken out and may participate in thecircuits, but the number thus participating must be uneven.
PROCESSION OF SEPHARIM ON SIMHAT TORAH AND SHABBAT
BERESHIT
On SimhatTorah the order in the Procession on the return of the Sepharim from the Tebah to the Ark is as follows:
Hatan Torah
Hatan Bereshit
First Sepher
Second Sepher
Accompanhador
Hazan
Parnas Presidente
Shushbin of Hatan Torah
Shushbin of Hatan Bereshit
MezammerMaphtir
Holders of the Mitsvot of Bells and Bands
The reader of Hashem Melech.
Hatan Torah
Accompanhador
Hazan
Parnas Presidente
Shushbin of Hatan Bereshit
Shushbin of Hatan Torah
Mezammer
Maphtir
Holders of the Mitsvot of Bells and Bands
The reader of Hashem Melech
APPENDIX B
SABBATHS AND FESTIVALS
Shabbat Beshallah Shabbat Rosh Hodesh
Shabbat Yitro Seventh Day Pesah
Shabbat Vaethanan First Day Shabungot
Shabbat Teshuva Kippur (Shahrit)
Shabbat Hanuca Shemini Hag Ngatseret
Shabbat Hagadol
ON WEEK DAYS
Rosh Hodesh Pureem
Each Tanganit
APPENDIX C
LIST OF HAPHRAROT RESTRICTED
TO MEN OVER THE AGE OF FORTY,
OR MARRIED
Haye Sarah NgekebVa-Yesheb Shabbat Shuba
Shemot First Day of Pentecost
Beshallah New Year (both days)
Yitro Kippur
Ahare Mot First and Second Days of Pass-
Kedoshim over
Emor First Day of Succot
Bemidbar Shabbat Ha-Gadol
Shelah Lecha Shabbat Parah
Hukkot Shabbat Zachor
Haphtarot for the three weeks Shabbat Rosh Hodesh
preceding the Fast of Ab Mahar Hodesh
Shabbat Nahamu Intermediate Sabbath of Succot
APPENDIX D
LIST OF MITSVOT FOR ROSH HASHANA
AND KIPPUR
ARBITFirst Day Second Day
Segan I for Arbit Segan I for Arbit
Segan II for Arbit Segan II for Arbit
SHAHRIT
Zemirot Zemirot
Segan Shahrit I Segan Shahrit I
Segan Shahrit 11 Segan Shahrit II
Portas Portas
Sepher I Sepher I
Sepher II Sepher II
Accompanhara Accompanhara
Bells I Bells I
Band I Band I
Bells 11 Bells 11
Band II Band 11
Levantar Levantar
Tokenga (unless on Shabbat) Tokenga
SEPHER
Cohen Cohen
Levi Levi
Third (Tokenga even if Shabbat) Third
Fourth Fourth
Fifth Fifth
Sixth (if on Sabbath)
Seventh )
Maphtir Maphtir
Segan Musaph I Segan Musaph I
Segan Musaph II Segan Musaph II
LIST OF MITSVOT
KAL NIDRE,
Portas (Gabay)
SEPHARIM
1. The Haham2. Hatan Torah
4. Thesoureiro (or Parnas) of Heshaim
5. Parnas of Hebra
6. Thesoureiro (or Parnas) of Bet Holim
7. Parnas of Terra Santa
8. Parnas of Cautivos
9. Parnas of Shangare Ezra
io. Parnas of Yeshivat Ohel Moshe Veehudit
i i. Parnas of Shangare Tikva
Segan I
Segan II
KIPPUR DAY
Portas Shahrit
Zemirot
Segan I
Segan II
Portas for Sepher
Sepher I
Sepher II
Accompanhara
Bells I
BandsI
Bells II
Bands II
Levantar
Portas Musaph
Sepher (Shahrit)
CohenLevi
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh (if Sabbath)
Maphtir
MusaphSegan I
Segan 11
MinhaSegan
Segan
Portas Minha
Sepher
Accompanhara
Bells
Band
Levantar
Tokenga
Cohen
Levi
Maphtir
Portas Nengila
Segan I (Nengila)
Segan II (Nengila)
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