Synagogue Behavior

And [in a similar vein], R. Zeira says [that] R. Ḥisda says: The congregation is not permitted to answer amen [to the blessing recited over the Torah reading] until the blessing of the one reading [from the Torah] concludes from his mouth. And the reader is not permitted to [begin] reading from the Torah until [the response] amen [to the preceding blessing] concludes from the mouths of the congregation. And the translator is not permitted to begin the translation [of the Torah reading] until [the reading of] the verse [from the Torah] concludes from the mouth of the reader. And the reader is not permitted to begin [reading] another verse until the translation concludes from the mouth of the translator.

R. Tanḥuma says [that] R. Joshua ben Levi says: The one who concludes with a [reading from] the Prophets [haftarah] must first read [several verses] from the Torah. And R. Tanḥuma says [that] R. Joshua ben Levi says: The one who concludes is not permitted to conclude with [a reading from] the Prophets until the Torah scroll is furled.

And R. Tanḥuma says that R. Joshua ben Levi says: The prayer leader is not permitted to uncover [the decorative covering of] the ark in public, out of respect for the congregation. [It is inappropriate to have the congregation wait while doing this.]

And R. Tanḥuma says [that] R. Joshua ben Levi says: The congregation is not permitted to leave [the synagogue after the Torah reading] until the Torah scroll has been taken and [prepared to be] returned to its place, [as the Torah scroll used to be stored near the synagogue]. And Samuel said: [They may not leave] until [the Torah scroll] is [actually] taken out [of the synagogue, out of respect for the Torah scroll].

And they do not disagree [about the halakhah. Rather, they were discussing different situations]. This [statement of R. Joshua ben Levi is referring to a case] where there is another exit. [When the Torah scroll is being taken out of one exit, people may leave through the other exit. However,] that [statement of Samuel is referring to a case] where there is no other exit [and therefore the congregation must wait until the Torah is carried out]. Rava said: [The sage] bar Ahina explained to me [that this halakhah is derived from the verse]: After the Lord your God you shall walk (Deuteronomy 13:5) [meaning that one must walk after the Torah scroll and not in front of it].