Har Sinai in Shul
When the Torah is being read in shul, it is as if we are actually standing in front of Har Sinai (Mount Sinai) and receiving the Torah. Hence, we should comport ourselves be’aimah v’yirah (in awe and fear), and envision that we are receiving the Torah right then. The baal korei (person reading the Torah) is compared to Moshe Rabbeinu receiving the Torah and giving it over to us; the oleh l’Torah (person receiving the aliyah—the one being called up to the Torah) represents the Jewish people; and the gabbai (the one who assigns the aliyos and stands at the bimah [lectern] during kri’as haTorah—the reading of the Torah) is compared to Hashem Himself giving us the Torah. Therefore, we should treat the gabbai and his position with utmost respect; if we feel that he did not assign the aliyos as we would have liked, we should nevertheless judge him favorably, since he is representing Hashem in this context. During kri’as haTorah, we should not walk out of shul, nor speak or learn. It’s also not acceptable to “assist” the baal korei by humming or singing along the last few words of the aliyah, as has become the custom in some shuls. Not only is it wrong to do so, but it keeps others from hearing the words from the baal korei. #387