Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

category:  Other

The Baal Kore (person leading the prayers) during the Aliyah of the sections of rebuke in the Torah:
If a Shaliach is the only Baal Kore in his shul and is a Cohen or a Levi, or has a Chiuv for a parent and therefore would normally go up for Maftir, what should he do in weeks of the Parashot of Bechukotai and Tavo when according to the custom in Chabad the Baal Kore goes up of his own accord for the Aliya of ‘Rebuke’? (Tochacha).
Answer: A Baal Kore who is a Cohen or a Levi should not go up for the Aliya of Rebuke, whether or not there are other Cohanim or Leviim present, rather the Gabbai (person responsible for the minyan) or another member of the synagogue, should go up of his own accord. If the Baal Kore has a Chiuv for a parent and goes up for Maftir every Shabbat, this time he should forgo it and go up of his own accord for the Maftir of the Rebuke as is customary.

There are no hard and fast rules about white shirts. In general, a white shirt is considered to be a modest but respectable garment, and a person should wear clothing that is respectable.


Also, part of the day is spent standing in prayer in front of the Creator, and this certainly warrants respectable attire.


In any case, the main thing is not the external garments, but rather the spiritual ones, namely, a person’s thought, speech, and deed. Physical clothing is only a means to the end, the goal being purity of spiritual garments.

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