Receiving an Aliyah
On Monday and Thursday, and at Shabbos during Minchah, three people – a Kohen, a Levi, and a Yisrael – are called to the Torah.52 A minimum53 of eight people – a Kohen, a Levi, five Yisraelim, and someone for maftir54 – are called to the Torah every Shabbos morning. If a Kohen is unavailable, either a Levi or a Yisrael is called instead (if a Yisrael is called instead of a Kohen, then a Levi can no longer be called afterwards).55 If there is a Kohen but no Levi, then the same Kohen who was called for the first aliyah is called again for the second one.56
The Aliyah
The person being called should take the shortest possible route to the bimah so that there is no unnecessary delay. If all of the routes are equal in distance, he should ascend from the right side.57
Before reciting the blessing,58 the oleh (the person receiving the aliyah) should look inside the Torah to see where the ba’al korei will begin. It is not proper to look at the words of the Sefer Torah while reciting words that are not written in it. There are thus two options as to how to proceed. Either, the oleh may leave the scroll open but close his eyes while reciting Barchu and the berachah.59 Or the oleh should close the scroll before reciting Barchu and the berachah.60
After the reading, the sefer should be rolled up and then the oleh recites the final berachah. The final berachah should not be recited over an open sefer, even if the oleh keeps his eyes closed.61
The berachos, especially Barchu, must be recited loudly enough for at least ten men to hear them. The poskim are critical of those who recite the berachos in an undertone.62
The proper custom is for the oleh to wait until the next oleh finishes his final berachah before returning to his seat.63
52 Shulchan Aruch 135:1 with Mishnah Berurah 3.
53 Some congregations add aliyos, while others do not. Since both practices have a basis in halachah, each congregation should follow its own custom. It is preferable not to have more than eleven aliyos, including maftir; Ba’eir Heitev 282:3, alluded to by Sha’ar Hatziyun 282:5.
54 The person who receives maftir can be a Kohen, Levi, or Yisrael. Those congregations who add aliyos may also call a Kohen or a Levi for the last aliyah (known as acharon) but not for any of the other added aliyos; Mishnah Berurah 135:36-37. [It should be noted that some Sephardic communities follow the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch 135:10, which allows for a Kohen or Levi to be called for any aliyah once the first series of Kohen, Levi, and Yisrael has been called, and so long as the preceding aliyah was a Yisrael, see Kaf Hachaim 135:56-57.]
55 Shulchan Aruch 135:6.
56 Shulchan Aruch 135:8.
57 Shulchan Aruch 141:7.
58 One who is not wearing a tallis, even if he is unmarried, should put on a tallis when receiving an aliyah on Shabbos or Yom Tov mornings, but he is not required to do so when receiving an aliyah at other times (Shabbos afternoon, Monday or Thursday morning, Rosh Chodesh, or public fast days); Halichos Shlomo, Tefillah 12:20, Devar Halachah 29. Some congregations, however, always require an oleh to wear a tallis.
59 Mishnah Berurah 139:19; Chazon Ish (Dinim V’hanhagos 6:15). A third option, which is to leave the Sefer Torah open while looking to the left side, is not recommended by poskim, including Mishnah Berurah.
60 Beiur Halachah 139:4 (ד"ה ורואה).
61 Shulchan Aruch. 139:4. See Mishnah Berurah 139:17.
62 Shulchan Aruch 139:6. See Chayei Adam 31:12; Beiur Halachah 139:6, ד"ה והברכות.
63 Chayei Adam 31:10 and Mishnah Berurah 141:26.