Siman 134

On Monday and Thursday it is customary to add supplications, because they are days of favor. For when our teacher Moshe was with the latter tablets, when the Holy One, Blessed be He, was appeased by him, he ascended on Thursday and descended on Monday, as is explained in the Midrashim (Tur). Furthermore: for they are days of judgment, as the beit din of below and of above sit then in judgment (Shabbat 129b). For the constellation of Mars serves on these days two times in the day (ibid.), and the constellation of Mars indicates the attribute of judgment. And therefore we also read from the Torah on Monday and Thursday with three called-up individuals. And this is from the enactment of Ezra (Bava Kamma 82a), in order to protect the world so that it should not be destroyed because of the attribute of judgment, for Torah protects and saves.

Therefore, we say "VeHu Rachum" at length as printed in the siddurim. The early authorities wrote that it was instituted by three elders through a miracle that was performed for them, for the Holy One, Blessed be He, saved them from the fire so that it did not take hold of them when a certain governor burned them. Our teacher, the Beit Yosef, wrote that it is said in a loud voice. And if one did not say it standing, he violates the enactment and is called a "breacher of a fence." Thus far his words. However, our teacher, the Rema, wrote that the custom is to say it standing, but it is said in a whisper... Thus far his words. This is because it was instituted corresponding to the Shemoneh Esrei prayer (Magen Avraham), and such is the custom. He wrote further that it is customary to fast on them. That is to say: when they decree any fasts—they decree them on Monday and Thursday, and likewise Monday, Thursday, and Monday after Pesach and Sukkot. There are those who are accustomed to say the "Ashamnu" confession, and "El Erech Apayim Attah...", and the thirteen attributes. After "VeHu Rachum" we say Tachanun and "Hashem Elohei Yisrael Shuv...", "Habet...", "Zarim...", and "Shomer Yisrael...". And "El Erech Apayim" is said after Kaddish. It is said standing because it contains "Chatanu" and it is like a confession, which must specifically be said standing (ibid.).

Our teacher, the Beit Yosef, wrote: He shows the face of the writing of the sefer Torah to the people standing to his right and to his left, and turns it before him and behind him. For it is a mitzvah for all men and women to see the writing, and to bow and say "And this is the Torah...", "The Torah of Hashem is perfect, restoring the soul." Thus far his words. So it is found in Masechet Soferim (chapter fourteen). And this is what we call "hagbah," and among us we perform the hagbah after the reading. The Sephardim perform it before the reading, for so it is implied in Masechet Soferim there. And it is a wonder that we say "And this is the Torah... by the word of Hashem by the hand of Moshe," and so it is printed in the siddurim. And it is very difficult: First: for this is not a verse in any place. For "And this is the Torah" is in "Va'etchanan," and "by the word of Hashem by the hand of Moshe" is the end of a verse in "Beha'alotcha" regarding the journeys. Furthermore: for in Masechet Soferim it is not so, as I have written. And when he lifts it, he rolls the sefer Torah across three columns, and shows it to the people, and the face of the writing is opposite the face of the one performing the hagbah. And one who looks closely at the letters as is proper – a great light will reach him if he is worthy of it (see Magen Avraham subsection 3).

When the sefer Torah is removed, they say "Vayehi Binsoa HaAron," and "Berich Shmeih" from Zohar Vayakhel. The sheliach tzibbur says "Gadlu" facing the heichal. He raises the sefer Torah slightly and bows, and they say: "Lecha Hashem HaGedulah," "Av HaRachamim…". On Shabbat and Yom Tov, he says: "Shema Yisrael," "Echad Eloheinu" facing the congregation. He turns his face back toward the heichal and says "Gadlu," "Al Hakol Yitgadal Veyitkadash…". One must hold the Torah on his right side, and he walks toward the north side with the Torah. The first one who ascends to the Torah says "Baruch SheNatan Torah…", "Veatem HaDeveikim…" (and see Magen Avraham subsection 6). And see in siman 141 section 10 what I have written there.