Faith
What Is the Order of Importance of the Torah Aliyot?
Question
What is the ranking of the aliyot when there are 3, 4, 5, or 6 men called up?
Answer
Hello and blessings,
According to the Arizal, of blessed memory, the order of importance of those called up to the Torah on Shabbat is as follows: sixth, third, Kohen, Levi, fourth, fifth, seventh.
On days when fewer than six are called up (a Yom Tov on which five are called up, and on Monday and Thursday when three are called up, and the like), the last one is the most important of all, and after him follows the order of importance noted above for Shabbat.
However, according to our Talmud (Gittin 60a), the third aliyah is preferable to the sixth aliyah or to the final aliyah.
With blessings,
Menashe ben Porat
According to the Arizal, of blessed memory, the order of importance of those called up to the Torah on Shabbat is as follows: sixth, third, Kohen, Levi, fourth, fifth, seventh.
On days when fewer than six are called up (a Yom Tov on which five are called up, and on Monday and Thursday when three are called up, and the like), the last one is the most important of all, and after him follows the order of importance noted above for Shabbat.
However, according to our Talmud (Gittin 60a), the third aliyah is preferable to the sixth aliyah or to the final aliyah.
With blessings,
Menashe ben Porat
