It is correct for a person to endeavor to receive an “Aliyah” (to be called to read in the Torah), and he should rejoice greatly when called to read in the Torah. Chazal write that by doing this he acquires light for his soul. he should not care about when he gets called up, even if it is at a point in the reading which is not honorable for his station, for this is all emptiness and vanities.
It is well-known that the one called up to read in the Torah is obligated to read the blessings correctly in a loud voice. The one called up must also read quietly with the cantor, but he may not make a sound. If he does not do this, some say that his blessing was for naught. He should wait by the lectern until the following person finishes his reading and then return to his place (as if he would immediately return to his place, they would start the next reading in the meantime, and he would cause the public who bless him on his way back to sin, and he himself would also not hear the next reading). His ears should be attentive to listen to the reading of the Torah letter by letter and word by word, with great love like when it was given at Mount Sinai. He should not speak, as this is a great sin and a tremendous iniquity. He should most definitely not leave the Torah and exit, as Chazal said that about this the verse says “And those who abandon Hashem will be destroyed”, G-d forbid. He should reflect that upon each letter and even each crown of each letter rests piles and piles of high secrets and mysteries of mysteries. The work of our hands will build for us. Fortunate are we; how good is our lot.
