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Can Twins Do the Haftorah Together?

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We read in the Talmud (Megillah 21b) that, like the Torah reading, two people may not chant the Haftorah out loud together. This is because it is very hard to hear each word properly, and the purpose of the public chanting is for the congregation to listen and learn.

As such, I would suggest that you discuss this with the rabbi of your synagogue. For example, it is quite common for one person to be called up for maftir and say the blessings on the haftara, while another does the actual reading. Whatever the solution, together with your rabbi, I trust that you will find a way to divide things up so that both boys will shine on their special day.

By Menachem Posner
Rabbi Menachem Posner is a member of the Chabad.org Ask the Rabbi team.
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Discussion (6)
September 11, 2011
It might be "quite common" for one person to say the blessings and another to read the haftorah, but the Mishna B'rura says this is only permissible if reading from a klaf, parchment.
Donny Adler
new york, ny
July 1, 2010
Injecting a little humor here...
Twins should be able to both recite it, half and half because it is a half torah (hahahah).
karen Joyce Chaya Fradle Kleinman Bell
Riverside, CA, USA
March 8, 2010
twins saying the haftorah
when I got bar mitzva, ten men walked out as my brother said the blessing and then they walked in to hear my blessing.
Anonymous
las vegas, nv.
February 26, 2010
haftorah
when I got bar mitzvahed, ten people walked out & my brother said the blessing & then came back & I said the blessing. Then we both said the haftorah separately.
Anonymous
las vegas, nv.
February 23, 2010
Can Twins Do The Haftorah Together?
A person must chant a certain minimum numbers of verses, I believe 21, so if the haftorah contains 42 verses or more, they could split it, but if it contains fewer than 42 verses, it must be chanted by one person.
Please confirm this with your rabbi.
Anonymous
Stamford, CT
jewishenrichment.com
February 21, 2010
Can you have one start and one finish? Does the one who says the blessings before have to say the ones after?
Nessanel
Chicago, IL
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