Two people open the ark when we begin our Torah service. Honorees go up on the bimah at the beginning of the chanting of eyn kamocha (or at the cantor or rabbi's invitation). One stands on each side of the ark. Upon a signal from the rabbi or cantor, each opens the outer and then the inner ark doors on her/his side and remains standing on either side. Upon the second signal the person standing on the right (from the standpoint of one facing out toward the congregation) reaches in and removes one of the Torahs (the rabbi or cantor will signal which one) and hands it to the other honoree. The one who receives the Torah holds it, balancing it on her/his shoulder and holding it with one hand underneath and one arm across the mid-section, or however else is comfortable. The Torah holder then stands just behind the reading desk, with the rabbi and cantor flanking the Torah, and all three facing the congregation. At the phrase gadlu Adonai iti the Torah holder and two "guards" turn around, face the ark, and bow. The one who handed the Torah to the holder remains standing at the ark and closes the inner doors once the procession begins. He/she then either joins the procession or returns to his/her seat, as he/she prefers. At any convenient point, the person who is not holding the Torah may "peel off" from the procession and return to his/her seat.
The procession begins upon signal from the cantor (or other service leader). She/he precedes the Torah holder around the synagogue, eventually returning to the bimah. Once at the bimah the holder places the Torah on the reading desk. The Torah cover is removed and placed upon the Torah. The Torah holder then returns to his/her seat.
Three aliyot are reserved for congregants; often there are more. Each person honored with an aliyah [singular of aliyot] will be called to the bimah by name (and/or aliyah number) , and, when called, goes up and stands behind the Torah. The honoree then touches his/her talit or, if none, a book, to the place in the Torah where the reading will begin (pointed out by the reader), and kisses the book or talit corner. (This portion of the ceremony, while usual at Adat Shalom and many other synagogues, is optional. Some people object to it, and others find it uncomfortable.) Then the honoree recites the opening brachah (a large print copy is on the reader's desk). After the reading, the honoree again goes through the kissing ceremony and recites the closing brachah. After the next aliyah is called, the honoree moves to the left side of the Torah next to the "gabai sheynee" (2nd gabaii) and stands there while the next portion is read. Upon completion of the closing brachah, the honoree who is standing next to the gabaii sheynee returns to her/his seat.
The persons with this honor are called up by a formula that includes the two words hagbah and gelilah and sometimes by name as well. The person who is to serve as Hagbah, the Torah lifter, moves behind the reading desk, grasps the Torah by the bottom portion of its staves and underneath and moves it down atop the reading desk so that the mid-point rests upon the edge of the reading desk. Using the reading desk as a fulcrum, she/he then rotates the Torah to a vertical position and with knees bent (to save the back muscles, not for religious reasons), lifts the Torah at least to shoulder height, turns around so that the writing is facing the congregation, and, to the extent comfortable, spreads out the scroll so the congregants can see it. While the line (v'zot ha torah....) is sung the hagbah continues to hold the Torah in this manner, though if he/she finds it difficult to maintain this position, he/she may move to any seat on the right side of the bimah (as viewed looking toward the congregation). When the line zot haTorah is complete, she/he lowers the Torah to the extent that makes it easier to carry and sits down (keeping the Torah in the vertical position). Generally, the front portion of the Torah (see below) will be facing the Hagbah; the back portion will be facing the congregation. The hagbah remains in his/her seat on the bimah until the Torah is returned to the ark after the Haftorah reading.
At the beginning of the recessional (the procession or movement that culminates in the return of the Torah to the ark) the hagbah stands up and moves to the reading desk facing the congregation. There may be a recessional, or the hagbah may be told following y'hallelu to place the Torah in the ark. That done, he/she stands beside the ark until it is closed, or, if needed, assists by closing the ark doors on one side. Upon the completion of the Torah service and the closing of the ark doors, the Hagbah returns to her/his seat in the congregation.
The gelilah, the person dressing the Torah, who has been standing off to the right side of the ark while the hagbah lifts the Torah, accompanies the Hagbah to her/his seat (watching to rescue the Torah if it begins to wobble. When the Hagbah is seated the Gelilah grasps the top portion of the staves and rolls the Torah until it is closed. The hagbah assists to the extent she/he can. Once the Torah is securely rolled it is cinched shut using the velcro adorned blue belt (it's usually on the chair next to the one the Habgah is sitting upon, or it's on the reading desk), with the overlain portion facing the front of the Torah (the part where the two staves are visible, not the part where the staves are hidden by the parchment). Once that is secure, the gelilah drops the Torah cover onto the Torah with the larger decoration facing the front of the Torah. The gelilah returns to her/his seat.
The second ark openers come to the bimah at the start of the recessional. (Y'hallelu is chanted at that point). They stand beside the ark on either side, and at an appropriate point (free choice) in the recessional, if there is one, or immediately after y'hallelu is chanted, if there is none, they open the ark doors. After the hagbah returns to the Torah to the ark, the two honorees stand beside the ark, and when the Torah service ends (hadesh yamenu kekedem), they close first the inner and then the outer ark doors. They then return to their seats.
Rabbi George Driesen