[Avodah] Three Sifrei Torah

[Simon Montagu]

On 2/19/07, Galsaba at aol.com <Galsaba at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> What are the cases , and how many time in the year we take out three Sifrei
> Torah?
> At least one of them, I think, is when Rosh Chodesh Tevet falls on Shabbat.
> Do we take three also in Simchat Torah? or this is just in Israel?

There are altogether four cases, and I think no differences between
Israel and outside it:

1) Simchat Torah (Vezot Haberacha, Yom Tov Maftir, Bereshit). (Here
three is a minimum depending on minhag: many congregations take out a
fourth or fifth sefer)
2) when 30 Kislev falls on Shabbat (Parshat Hashavua, Rosh Chodesh, Chanukka)
3) when 1 Adar (or Adar Beit in a leap year) falls on Shabbat (Parshat
Hashavua, Rosh Chodesh, Shekalim)
4) when 1 Nisan falls on Shabbat (Parshat Hashavua, Rosh Chodesh, Hachodesh)

1) is of course an annual event
2) happens in any ordinary year in which Pesach is on Thursday and any
leap year in which Pesach is on Shabbat. The last time was 5766 and
the next time will be 5769. Parashat hashavua is always Mikketz.
3) happens in any year in which Pesach is on Sunday. The last time was
5765 and the next will be 5768. Parashat hashavua is either Teruma (if
Rosh Hashana was on Thursday) or Mishpatim (if Rosh Hashana was on
Shabbat)
4) happens in any year in which Pesach is on Shabbat. The last time
was 5758 and the next will be 5772. Parashat hashavua is Vayikra in
ordinary years and Tzav in leap years.

So altogether, depending on the year we take out three sefarim either
once, twice or three times.