[Mesorah] New Shtick

[R. Rich Wolpoe]

«Yes,1  having one's back to the torah is often given as the reason. 


2(The other one I have heard is that it is so people will realize that the Haftarah is not being read from a klaf.)»

I buy 2 but not one, re: hafatra while the Torah is there.  Megillah is read w/o the presence of the Torah

R Hofmeister rejects 1 also

What about reading the Torah without a raised bimah? Do people in front of the Torah need to turn around?
Shalom and Regards, RRW