Hagbah, the ritual lifting and displaying of the Sefer Torah, is something we often do during the Torah service. It’s not as difficult as it might appear. Alan Marcum has taught many people to do hagbah; he and Patrick Dirks will be leading a hagbah workshop for the Etz Chayim and the Keddem communities on Saturday, December 16, at Etz Chayim. The workshop, which will include a little learning about hagbah, focuses on the doing of hagbah: it’s a hands-on workshop emphasizing the mechanics and physics involved, and the techniques that make for a safe and sustainable lift without expending needless muscle power. We’ll be using a Torah-safe Hagbah Training Device, so no need to worry about dropping or damaging a Sefer Torah! The workshop will begin after the Etz Chayim Shabbat morning services and Oneg conclude. If you want to learn to do hagbah, or if you want to improve your hagbah technique, or if you just want to learn more about what we do when we lift and display the Sefer Torah, you’re welcome to join us.