Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

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The Rav Name:

The direction the lectern faces during the reading of the Torah:
When the Torah is read in a place which is not designated for prayer, and it is difficult to arrange that it should take place on the eastern side, is it obligatory to make extraordinary efforts to arrange it, or is it ‘forgivable’?
Answer: The Halacha does not insist that the Reading of the Torah must take place on the eastern side specifically, and it is permissible to do it on another side, but the Kaddish that is recited after the Reading of the Torah should be recited on the eastern side.

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