Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 282:7-12

Hook

Have you ever walked into a synagogue and watched people be called up to the Torah, only to notice that sometimes there are five, seven, or even more people called up? You might wonder if there’s a secret limit or if the rabbi is just feeling generous that morning. It can feel like a bit of a mystery—or even a logistical headache—when you’re just trying to follow along. Today, we’re looking at a classic piece of Jewish wisdom that tackles this exact "problem." It turns out that ancient scholars were just as puzzled by this as we are, and their debate reveals something beautiful about how our community balances strict tradition with the very human desire to feel included. Let’s dive into why we add extra people to the reading and why, sometimes, it’s best just to go with the flow.

Context

• Who: This text is by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829–1908), a brilliant legal scholar who wrote the Arukh HaShulchan. He was known for being incredibly practical and for trying to bridge the gap between high-level law and real-life behavior.
• When: Written in the late 19th century, this work summarizes centuries of Jewish legal debates into a format that regular people could actually read and understand.
• Where: The Arukh HaShulchan is a guide to Halakhah (Jewish law), which is the system of rules and guidance for daily Jewish living.
• The Key Term: Aliyah (plural: Aliyot). An Aliyah is the honor of being called up to recite a blessing over the Torah scroll during a service.

Text Snapshot

"The Levush seemed to say that it is good to add to the number of people called to the Torah [a.k.a. 'hosafot']; he wrote regarding addition, 'We ascend in sanctity.' ... Some say that the mishnaic permission to add ascendants referred only to the time of the mishnah, when the middle ascendants did not recite blessings. Today, when each ascendant recites blessings, adding ascendants adds blessings, and is close to introducing purposeless blessings... [But] this opinion has never been accepted. Most authorities did not agree to it... This is the custom which has spread... Since there is no prohibition involved, it is not worthwhile to stand in argument against it and to protest." — Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 282:7-12 (https://www.sefaria.org/Arukh_HaShulchan%2C_Orach_Chaim_282%3A7-12)

Close Reading

Insight 1: The Tension Between Ritual and Community

The core of this text is a classic struggle: should we be "purists" who follow the original, minimalist rules, or should we be "community-builders" who make space for more people? Some scholars worried that adding too many people meant adding too many extra blessings, which they feared might be "purposeless." It’s a very technical, almost academic concern. If you’re a stickler for rules, you might find this argument very compelling. But Rabbi Epstein, our author, takes a step back. He acknowledges the technical concern but points out that the "custom that has spread" is to allow the additions. He values the collective behavior of the Jewish people over a rigid adherence to a theoretical rule that nobody actually follows. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, the "right" thing to do is whatever keeps the community connected and happy.

Insight 2: The Art of Picking Your Battles

Rabbi Epstein’s final point is perhaps the most relatable part of the entire lesson. He talks about Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. He notes that some experts really dislike adding extra people to the Torah reading on this day because the sections are all about atonement, and they want to keep the service focused. But then, he basically shrugs and says, "The people won't listen to us, so why fight it?" It is a moment of profound humility. He recognizes that if you try to stop people from participating in a meaningful ritual, you’re just going to cause unnecessary friction. He chooses peace and participation over winning a technical argument. This is a masterclass in leadership: knowing that keeping the peace and allowing people to engage with their faith is often more important than being technically "correct" in the eyes of a dusty old law book.

Insight 3: Sanctity is Cumulative

The text mentions the Levush, an earlier commentator who argued that when we add people to the Torah reading, "We ascend in sanctity." Think about that for a second. Instead of seeing an extra Aliyah as a "clutter" or a "deviation from the rules," he sees it as a ladder. Every person who steps up to the Torah is an opportunity to elevate the room, to share the joy of the reading, and to remind ourselves that the Torah belongs to everyone, not just the experts or the officials. Even if the original rules didn't explicitly demand these extra spots, the spirit of the custom is one of growth. We aren't just reading text; we are bringing people into the text, and that, in and of itself, is a holy act.

Apply It

This week, try the "Practice of Inclusion." You don’t need to be in a synagogue to do this. Think of one space in your life—a family dinner, a work meeting, or a friend group chat—where you usually take the lead or do most of the talking. For the next seven days, spend 60 seconds each morning setting an intention to "make space" for someone else. Maybe it’s asking a quiet colleague for their opinion, or letting someone else choose the restaurant for dinner. Like the rabbis debated, we often think we know the "best" way to do things, but the real growth happens when we step back, add a new person to the mix, and let the group "ascend in sanctity" together. It’s a small, one-minute shift that changes the whole dynamic.

Chevruta Mini

1. Rabbi Epstein decides not to fight the people on adding more Aliyot. Can you think of a time in your own life where you had to choose between being "technically right" and "keeping the peace"? How did that feel?
2. The text suggests that adding people to the Torah reading might increase the "sanctity" of the service. Do you feel more connected to a community when you are an active participant, or when you are just an observer? Why?

Takeaway

Sometimes the most "holy" thing we can do is let go of our need to follow the rules perfectly and instead make room for others to participate.