Chapter 23 – the Reading of Torah

23.1) Walk northward when taking the Sefer Torah (handwritten copy of the Torah, the holiest book within Judaism) out of the Holy Ark and walk southward to return it. Hold it on your right arm.

23.2) When reading the Torah, wrap yourself in a fringed tallit and take the shortest way going to read and the longest way returning from reading.

23.3) Close your eyes when reading the chosen passage from the Scroll.

23.4) Do not hold the Scroll with your hands.

23.5) Stand while reading the Torah.

23.6) Remain standing until the benediction is complete.

23.7) Someone must stand beside the reader of the Torah as he reads.

23.8) Do not talk during the reading of the Torah.

23.9) When a Kohen (priest) is in the synagogue, he is to be called first to read.

23.10) If a Kohen (priest) recites Shema (three portions of the Holy Scriptures in Deuteronomy and Numbers; one of only two prayers that are specifically commanded in Torah) or the Shemoneh esreh (eighteen; silent prayer), he should not be called to read the Torah.

23.11) Anyone who takes the place of a Kohen or a Levi, should not be called by name.

23.12) If a Kohen appears in synagogue after the service has started, he should be called to read the Torah.

23.13) Close relatives must not be called up to the Torah in succession.

23.14) A person who has been called up to the Torah in one synagogue and then visits another should go up and say the benediction.

23.15) On a public fast day, only those who have fasted may be called to the Torah.

23.16) If you reside where only one festival day is observed, you may not be called up to the Torah if you visit another synagogue on the second day of the festival.

23.17) A blind person may be called to read the Torah even though it is forbidden to recite it.

23.18) If a reader reads from the wrong place in the Torah, he need not repeat the benediction.

23.19) On Mondays, Thursdays, and the Sabbath no one person is to read more than three verses.

23.20) Readers should not stop reading if there are less than three verses left in a section.

23.21) Do not begin reading less than three verses removed from the beginning of a section.

23.22) Do not end the reading where the evil deed of someone is recorded.

23.23) Repeat the reading when only two verses are read and the benediction has been said.

23.24) A minor may not be a reader and may not say the benediction.

23.25) Raise the Scroll after the reading of the Torah.

23.26) Except for certain occasions, the half-kaddish (a hymn of praises to G-d) is recited after the reading of the Torah.

23.27) Read Yehi raizon after raising the Scroll on Monday, Thursday, and the Sabbath.

23.28) Replace the Scroll in the Holy Ark after reading.

23.29) If you have no Scroll, read the Pentateuch to the congregation.

23.30) If a quorum is present with no Scroll, do not bring them one.