[Mesorah] New Shtick

[R. Rich Wolpoe]

«Another naive question from the back bench: on what grounds is #1 rejected?  What's the heter to stand right in front of the torah with your back to it?

-- Sholom»

A the Shatz should be facing frontwards. There is  evidence of hakpadah re: davka The hatarah . There the  specific problem is that we have a concern so that the Haftarah not be equated to the Torah. This legitimate concern makes sense

B. OTOH There is no evidence of hakpadah of turning one's back to the Torah whilst davening to the front of the shul [be it to the Aron or twoards  mizrach]. Therefore alecha l'havi raya that one MUST adjust. 

C Whilst the Torah is at rest, there is AFAIK no hakpadah. When the Torah is moving that's another story.  EG one need NOT stand when just opening the Aron, though it is popular Minhag to do so.


Shalom and Regards, RRW