When Handling Precious Scrolls, Torah Lifters Pray for Successful Hoist
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Lots of good information in the link, too. In the Jewish Community, do weight-lifters measure their strength by how many Torah Scrolls they can bench-press? Maybe the ceremony needs someone to "rep" the lifter, like in weight-lifting.
There was a dropped Torah in my community recently (not at my shul). After consulting many great Rav's the result was the entire shul was obligated to a one-day daytime fast. It was big news locally.
I take great pride in my Haggbah (the honor of hoisting the Torah scroll for all to see, at the conclusion of the Shabbos Torah reading). It must be done in a way that preserves the scroll, as most of our Torah scrolls are 30+ years old. And it must be done in a halachically proscribed manner, i.e. a minimum of three columns of writing must be visible, and it must be held in a way that all congregants can see the actual writing.
The real trick (and Walter will know what I mean) is doing Haggbah on the holiday of Simchas Torah. That's the one Haggbah a year that requires both skill and stength. Walter, you want to explain that one?
BTW, the rule of the Gabbai (the man in charge of dispensing honors during the Torah reading) in my shul, is that any less than perfect Haggbah, and he puts you on "the bench" for a few weeks to view others' Haggbahs before he gives you another chance.
The real trick (and Walter will know what I mean) is doing Haggbah on the holiday of Simchas Torah. That's the one Haggbah a year that requires both skill and stength. Walter, you want to explain that one?
It's at the end of/beginning of reading from the Torah scrolls and almost all the weight is on the left hand side. It's a tough one to lift and, with your back to the congregation and with your arms spread apart, raise above your head.
It's at the end of/beginning of reading from the Torah scrolls and almost all the weight is on the left hand side. It's a tough one to lift and, with your back to the congregation and with your arms spread apart, raise above your head.
In addition to Walter's great answer, the person doing Haggbah also places their left hand on the right spindle and their right hand on the left spindle, lifts the Torah and switches the spindles mid lift. VERY difficult - and only done this one time a year. My shul actively seeks out one of a few men/strong boys in the community for this one day to assure we have somebody to do the haggbah properly.
I'v never known why this is the minhag (custom). I should ask my Rav.
I am curious as to what you think about the incident involving this bishop in Atlanta Eddie Long who was crowned a King and a so called ancient Torah was used in the ceremony? They placed him on a Throne and lifted him up in the air and walked him around.
I remember when my Zaidy was receiving an aliyah at the Synagogue because of his 90th birthday or some other occasion that I was going to have to lift up the Torah. I wasn't looking forward to this in the slightest because I was terrified I was going to have an "incident," but thankfully something happened and I guess the lifting was assigned to another person and I was quite relieved.
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Maybe the ceremony needs someone to "rep" the lifter, like in weight-lifting. 
