Tomb of Tana Hakadosh Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu
Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu was one of the first Tannaim (sages of the Mishnah era) and teacher of Rabbi Akiva
Shalom, Rabbi
Is it permissible to bring a longtime member of the congregation who has a vision problem and has difficulty following the baal kore (the one reading the Torah) because he or she can’t see the text? He or she usually does.
Thank you
Shalom and Blessings
The Shulchan Aruch and the Rema disagreed on whether a blind person is permitted to be called to Torah alyah, and listen to the reading; however, it is still customary among Sephardic communities to bring a blind person to the Torah aliyah and recite the blessing while the baal kore reads from the Torah.
However, someone whose vision has become weak and who is not blind but has difficulty reading, since they are considered “worthy to read” according to all opinions, is permitted to bring them to the Torah without concern, and they will listen to the baal kore’s reading and fulfill their obligation according to the law of shomea keone (“hearing as a response”), just as an “am haaretz” (illiterate), who even without knowing how to read, fulfills their obligation by listening to the baal kore’s reading. Of course, they must repeat quietly along with the baal kore’s reading, as every person ascending the Torah must do, as explained in the Responsa, Yechave Da’at, Part 4, Section 11.
To remove any apprehension from the hearts of the members of the congregation, the baal kore may order that the Torah blessing be performed by the one ascending the Torah [who has difficulty reading], and thus everyone will fulfill their obligation through the baal kore’s reading without any apprehension.
With the blessings of the Torah
Rabbi David Ohayon
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