Dear Gabbai,
I’d like to share a small observation — one I suspect many strong men in shul quietly think about but rarely say aloud.
Once a person is deemed “a hagba guy,” he is, for all practical purposes, disqualified from gelila. It’s as if the moment you prove you can lift the Torah without trembling, the possibility of ever rolling it again quietly vanishes. From that point on, gelila goes only to the little kids, the shorter/skinnier men, or the newcomers the gabbai wants to make feel included.
Don’t get me wrong — hagba is an honor. I’m grateful for it. But every once in a while, it would be nice to just stand there next to the bima and calmly do gelila — no lifting, no twisting, no nervous people waiting for you to turn the Torah fully before it’s secure. Just a simple, dignified gelila.
It’s not that I’m overlooked because anyone doubts me; it’s that I’m not even thought of for it. Somehow, once you’re strong enough for hagba, you’re permanently assigned to that role.
So this is just a small note to the gabbaim of the world: even the “hagba guys” would sometimes like to be the “gelila guys.” We, too, wouldn’t mind the quiet, occasional honor of wrapping the mantle and clicking the belt.
Respectfully,
A Faithful Hagba Veteran
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We’ll said, this a very common feeling for hagbah guys
LOL, well, i think the real issue is there arent enough Hagbah guys, and every time the gabbai tries a new fellow our hearts must flutter with the UPS and DOWNS of the wobbling side! There should be a set of weights in each shul that the guy must prove he can before round 1!
So tell whoever you need to! You think writing a letter on TLS is helping you or anyone about getting gellila? And we have much bigger problems to focus on than this.
I’m sorry but was it just Rosh Chodesh Cheshvon or Adar?
This guy has nothing better to worry about 😂😂 pretty awesome
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 Yes! Thinking the same!
Note TO the hagba guys:
Please open the torah 3 colums and then do hagba, don’t be cool and unroll it while holding it in the air, it is not a toy and it is not a show off competition!
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
For the record the halacha is to open it three columns and after you pick it up to continue opening the torah as far as your arms go
What is your source for this?
I tried looking this up & found that everyone out there agrees that three columns is either the min/max or ideal amount that should be unrolled BEFORE picking it up and ONLY the mishna brura holds that it depends on the strength on the hagba guy. Regardless, some people open it in a way that seems so carelessly almost just to show off & that always makes my heart skip a beat.
Up to three columns.
I guess it’s a slow news day
There’s bigger issues out there
Dear hagbah guy, I want to write about us gelilah guys that never get hagbah just because we don’t look as tall and strong as you, when in reality we’re just as capable of doing hagbah. Most of the people who struggle to do it is because they don’t know how to. When I was in 8th grade my Rebbi trained every kid from strong to weak how to do hagbah, and everyone was able to do it. BTW we don’t get gelila either, it goes to the kids.
With the new Sifrei Torah today there is no need anymore for a hagbah guy.
Back in Europe the standard ס״ת size was over a 50 mm tall Klaf (parchment).
After the holocaust till about 10 years ago the standard full size was 48cm and a smaller size was 45 cm.
Today a full size ס״ת is 42cm and a smaller size is 36cm, No need for a hagba guy with those.
Many years ago a neighbors old shver came and they asked me to lain by Mincha from a small ס״ת of which I got a bit mixed up , after that I ordered myself from Israel a very large 54 cm ס״ת to be written of which it came out beautiful. Every Baal Koreh Whom ever lained from it Complemented what a pleasure it was. However besides hagbah being a nightmare with it, the Gabaiim dread having to be gollel ( rolling) it.
it’s a bit heavy, but it’s quite bulky.
That Sefer surely requires a strong hagbah guy.
Invest in a GalKal to ease the rolling issue
Thanks
You think you have it bad?
I’ve been Davening at my Shul for over 20 years & not once have I been asked to lead Ne’ilah!
What makes it hurt even worse is that I am the Ruv!
get a life
That’s not nice.
omg!!
this guy is so self conscious every time he gets hagbah!
Life isn’t just about “bigger” issues, it’s the small or in between that defines our lives.You critics kindly lay off , assuredly, you have “small” priblems that give you fits, each according to his personalty.
I think a vote for Avi would take care of this big issue facing the כלל.
finaly a issue that is fit to be discussed on this forum!!! so refreshing!!
This must be why Moshiach isn’t here yet.
Thank you for raising awareness of this important topic. The Hagba Crisis is real. It is painful. And you are not alone. Hatzlacha.
While on topic, Id like to advise Gaba’im to try to get a lefty Hagba Guy this time of year. And then a mighty from after Shvuos till Sukkos. Makes it a LOT easier.
My heart goes out to you… Many shuls sell Hagba/Gellila for the whole year on Simchas Torah. Buy it, you will then be able to give Hagba to other “Hagba guys” and you can do Gellile to your heart’s content.
#hagbahguysmatter