Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

A Must-Read

January 9, 2025

Q When called up for Maftir, do I need to read the Haftarah along with the ba’al korei? Does everyone else?

A Originally, there was no ba’al korei at Krias HaTorah, and each of the olim would read aloud for the tzibur. In the time of the early Rishonim, when some people were unable to do it, the practice of appointing a ba’al korei developed.

The Rishonim write that the oleh must read along quietly, because if he doesn’t, his brachos would be levatalah (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 141:2); this applies to the Haftarah too. Later poskim (see Bais Yosef O.C. 141) say that bedi’eved (ex post facto)—due to the principle of shomeia ke’oneh (hearing is like speaking)—the Rishonim’s requirement of reading along can be satisfied by listening to the ba’al korei’s reading.

For the same reason, a blind person may receive an aliyah. Though he cannot read, he can listen (Mishnah Brurah 139:12).

During Krias HaTorah, the tzibur should remain silent and listen, but they may read along quietly (Mishnah Brurah 285:14).

The Magein Avraham (284:5) cites the Arizal that for kabbalah-based reasons, the tzibur should read along with the Haftarah (but not the Torah). Some poskim offer a halachic basis for this: If a printed Navi is used rather than a klaf, the tzibur does not fulfill its obligation with the ba’al korei’s reading, so they must read for themselves (see Mishnah Brurah 284:11, citing Ma’aseh Rav, and Shu”t Chasam Sofer O.C. 68).

The Magein Avraham rules that the tzibur should read along quietly, allowing the ba’al korei’s voice to be clearly heard. But the practice in many Chasidishe communities is for the tzibur to read aloud. In some congregations, the people listen quietly or read quietly along with the ba’al korei.