Rosh HaShanah Morning Honors Details
WHEN is Rosh HaShanah this year? CLICK HERE for schedule
RHMT01 (223-228) Open and Close Ark to Remove Torah [2 People]
There will be song on page 220 after the Silent Meditation. That is your cue to come to the Bimah to be ready to open the Ark. Bring your books so that you can participate in the things we read and sing. This honor involves standing for while, because it begins with Avinu Malkeinu pages 223, and then we jump to page 226 to begin the Torah service. NOTE: The door on the left is difficult to open in the middle of the opening - it starts out easy, gets difficult, and then is easy again. Continue to open it beyond the difficult part. Two people will be doing this honor: one for the left door and one for the right. If you have weakness in your arms, please choose the door on the right. When the Ark is open, you should be facing whichever direction the Rabbi faces (when she is facing the Ark, you face the Ark; when she faces the congregation, you face the congregation.) There are a few songs we sing with the choir for this section. When the Rabbi takes the Torah down the stairs to the congregation, please close the Ark doors. You may return to your place in the congregation, but you will not be seated until the Rabbi puts theTorah down, and tells everyone to sit.
RHMT02 (228) Undress the Torah [2 people] When the Rabbi passes your row on the way back to the bimah, please get behind her and follow the Torah up the stairs. You will begin undressing the Torah with the Rabbi when the Torah is at the top of the stairs again. Watch the video to see how to undress the Torah and where to put the Crowns, Yad, Breastplate, and Mantle. Once you finish undressing the Torah please return to your seat.
*RHMT03/06 (230) Bless the Torah
When the Rabbi passes your row on the way back to the bimah, please get behind her and follow the Torah up the stairs. The Rabbi will talk about the portion as she prepares the Torah to be read. She will open the Torah Scroll and show you the first word. If you are wearing a Tallit - use the tzitzit to touch the first word / if you are not wearing a Tallit, use a prayerbook to touch the first word - THEN kiss your tzitzit or prayerbook (touch then kiss where you touched the word in the Torah). HOLD onto the Torah handles when you say the blessing. There is a LARGE PRINT copy of the blessing with Hebrew and Transliteration that will be sitting on the lectern for you to use, if you need. When you are finished saying the blessing, please stay on the right side of the person reading the Torah, and hold onto the right handle of the Torah. When the Torah is finished being read, touch and kiss the final word of the portion, close the Torah, say the blessing, and remember to keep holding onto the Torah during the blessing. When you are finished, you may return to your seat in the congregation.
Page 230
*RHMT04 (240-241) Read the Torah in Hebrew
When the Rabbi passes your row on the way back to the bimah, please get behind her and follow the Torah up the stairs. Be to the side or behind the person blessing the Torah. You will point to the first word and the last word for the Blessers to kiss the words. [The Rabbi has many resources to help learn / read the Torah portion]
Page 240 Page 241
*RHMT05 (240-241) Read Torah in English
When the Rabbi passes your row on the way back to the bimah, please get behind her and follow the Torah up the stairs. You are welcome to be seated behind the lectern while the Torah is being blessed and read. Come to the lectern to read after the final Torah blessing is said. The Rabbi has a LARGE PRINT book on the lectern you are welcome to use to read the selection. When you finish reading, please return to your seat.
Page 240 Page 241
RHMT07 (246) Lift the Torah After the Reading
You will come to the Bimah at the end of the English Reading of the Torah on page 246. You can start to come up before they finish reading, so that the service can continue smoothly (without having to wait for you to come up.) If you have not ever lifted a Torah Scroll, you may want to come before the service to practice with the Rabbi. Watch the video to learn how to do it. NOTE: The Torah portion is in the Book of Genesis, which means that most of the weight of the Torah is in your left hand.
RHMT08 (246) Dress the Torah [2 people]
Please come up to the Bimah while the end of the English translation of the Torah is being read on page 241. After the Torah is lifted for singing the “V’Zot HaTorah” (at the bottom of page 246), with the help of Rabbi Jana, please: replace the mantle, which is it at the lectern; replace the breastplate, which is on the center two posts of the Torah stand; replace the yad (pointer), which is on the lectern. When you finish dressing the Torah, please return to your seat. Watch the video to learn how to do it.
*RHMT09/11 (247) Bless the Haftarah (Hebrew or English)
Please come up to the Bimah while the end of the English translation of the Torah is being read on page 241. While the Torah is being dressed, please: Read (English or Hebrew) or chant the blessing before the reading of the Haftarah on page 247 of the Machzor. When you finish the blessing Stay near the lectern, and allow the Haftarah reader to read the selection in English. Read or chant the blessing after the Haftarah (English or Hebrew) on page 247. NOTE that this blessing is somewhat different than the blessing for Haftarah for Shabbat). You are welcome to read in Hebrew or English.You may leave the Bimah when you are finished.
Before Haftarah Page 247 After Haftarah 259
*RHMT10 (Alternate 338) read the Haftarah in English
Please come up to the Bimah while the end of the English translation of the Torah is being read on page 241. Someone else will be reading or chanting the Haftarah blessings before and after you read the Haftarah selection. Stand near the lectern while the blessing before the reading of the Haftarah on page 241 of the Machzor is being read or chanted. There are two options to choose from for the Haftarah in this Machzor. You are welcome to choose either one: Pages 250 to-253 OR 255 to 257 (NOT BOTH). Stand near the lectern while the blessing after the Haftarah is being read or chanted. You may leave the Bimah after the Blessing After the Haftarah is finished.
Page 338 Alternate Page 339
RHMT12 (276-277) Open and Close the Ark to Return the Torah [2 People]
Please come to the bimah while the congregation is reading the Prayer for Israel on page 274. The Rabbi will tell the congregation to please rise when the Ark is open. NOTE: The door on the left is difficult to open in the middle of the opening - it starts out easy, gets difficult, and then is easy again. Continue to open it beyond the difficult part. Two people will be doing this honor: one for the left door and one for the right. If you have weakness in your arms, please choose the door on the right. Face the Torah Scrolls and read with the Congregation. The Rabbi will indicate when to close the doors. The Rabbi will announce that when the Ark is closed everyone may be seated. Please close the doors and return to your seat.
RHMC01 (286) Open and Close Ark for Aleinu [2 People]
Rabbi will ask you to come up to open the Ark after the sermon and announcements. Bring your book, and walk up to the bimah. When the Rabbi says, "Please rise when the Ark is open" open the doors to the Ark. NOTE: The door on the left is difficult to open in the middle of the opening - it starts out easy, gets difficult, and then is easy again. Continue to open it beyond the difficult part. Two people will be doing this honor: one for the left door and one for the right. If you have weakness in your arms, please choose the door on the right. Face the Torah Scrolls and read with the Congregation. The Rabbi will indicate when to close the doors. We continue on page 84. When the Song ends, you may close the Ark, and return to your seats.
RHMSh (137 & 206 & 268 & 284) Blow Shofar
There are Shofar Blasts on pages 137, 206, 268, and 284. Please come to the Bimah before the blasts so that you can be on the Bimah during the blessing for Hearing the Shofar, and to allow the service to continue smoothly. You are welcome to return to your seat after each set of blasts are completed.
For an explanation of the codes at the beginning of the name for each honor CLICK HERE.