Ask the Rov: How should aliyos be given out on Simchas Torah?
By Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Rov of Anash in Petach Tikvah
Many unique customs are observed due to the special joy of Simchas Torah. The Rama’s list includes the custom of calling many people up to the Torah and reading the aliyos multiple times to accommodate everyone.1
Doing so renders honor to the Torah and engenders everyone’s rejoicing over the Torah. Chassidishe seforim explain that the transcendent levels of Elokus (makif) shine on this day, and thus, there are fewer limitations than usual.2 Although we avoid giving consecutive aliyos to a father and son due to ayin hara, it isn’t an issue on Simchas Torah when the ayin hara is powerless.3
To carry this out in the best manner, some shuls give each person their own aliya, and keep repeating the kriah over and over. However, due to constraints of time and manpower, many shuls give multiple people an aliya together, with each person saying their own bracha.4 It seems that this was the practice in 770.5
From the Yerushalmi, it appears that two people should not get an aliya together since they can’t both say a bracha over the same mitzva.6 However, some differentiate between then, when the olim read the Torah themselves, and today, when the baal korei reads it on their behalf. Others say that the problem with the double bracha is that their voices cannot be heard by the crowd, and on Simchas Torah when the Torah is dear to all, the multiple brachos on the Torah can be discerned and heard.7
The Rama quotes another minhag to give an aliya to all the children (kol hane’arim). This strengthens their connection to the Torah and increases their love for the Torah. It also is a remembrance for Hakhel when even small children participated in listening to the Torah being read. 8
Children can join the aliya of kol hane’arim with at least one adult who recites the bracha on behalf of the children who can’t,9 or they could receive an aliya with their father. It is not the Chabad minhag to spread a tallis over the children during kol hane’arim or to recite Hamalach Hagoel.10
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From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash
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