Sabbath Prayers: The Blessings Over The Torah

On Shabbat morning, seven different people are called to recite the blessings over the reading of the Torah. Each person is referred to as the oleh, “he who has come up.” The blessings begin with Barchu, a call to the congregation:

Barchu et Ah’doh’nai ham’vorach.
Bless God, the Blessed One.

To which the congregation responds first and then the oleh:

Ba’ruch Ah’doh’nai ham’vorach l’olam va’ed.
Blessed is God, the Blessed One, for ever and ever.

The oleh then recites the blessing:

Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai Eh’lo’hay’nu Melech ha’o’lam, asher ba’char banoo mee’kohl ha’ameem, v’natan lanoo et To’rato. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai no’tain ha’Torah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has chosen us from all the peoples and given us His Torah. Blessed are You, Lord, Giver of the Torah.

The Torah portion is then read either by the baal korey, the official reader, or, at certain times, by the oleh. After the reading, the final blessing is recited by the oleh:

Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai Eh’lo’hay’nu Melech ha’o’lam, asher natan lanoo Torat emet, v’chah’yay oh’lam na’ta b’tochaynoo. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai no’tain ha’Torah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has given us the Torah of truth, planting eternal life in our midst. Blessed are You, Lord, Giver of the Torah.