Shabbos Bulletin Parshas Bechukosai 5775

Tefilla Halacha

When the tzibbur calls out “chazak, chazak, v’nischazek”, should the Torah be open or closed?

The Mishneh Berura says that since the Torah has to be closed between aliyos anyway, everyone holds that the Torah should be closed for the second berachah over the Torah. The same logic would apparently hold true for chazak chazak v’nischazek as well.

Many hold that the person who had that last aliyah should NOT say chazak…before he makes the second beracha, as it would be a hefsek for him.