Walking to and From the Bimah

One who gets called for an aliyah should go to the bimah quickly because of kovod ha’tzibbur,(29) and after finishing his aliyah should go away from the bimah slowly because of kovod ha’torah.(30)

Therefore, one who gets called for an aliyah should take the shortest path to the bimah, and after his aliyah is over he should take a longer way back to his seat.(31) If both paths to the bimah are equal in length, one should take the path on the right side.(32)

The Rama (33) says one should not leave the bimah until the next person is called up. However, the minhag in klal yisroel is that one who received an aliyah does not go down until the aliyah and berochos of the person who received an aliyah after him are finished. (34) The reason is because we are concerned that one who returns to his seat in middle of laining will not be able to concentrate properly. (35)

Showing the Words in the Torah

Before reciting the beracha on the sefer Torah, one should be shown the words from which the laining will begin.36) In this way a person will know what he is reciting the beracha on.(37) There are different minhagim as to whether the Torah should be kept open or closed while one is reciting the beracha.(38) Many poskim say that the sefer Torah should be kept opened.(39) If the sefer Torah was kept closed during the beracha, it should be opened after the beracha is completed.(40) One should not look in the sefer Torah while reciting the beracha.(41) Some have the custom to close their eyes while reciting the beracha. (42)

Footnotes
(29) Elya Rabbah 141:9, Sharei Ephraim 4:1, Mishnah Berurah 141:25. (30) Kaf Ha’chaim 41, Mishnah Berurah 26. (31) Mishnah Berurah 141:23. (32) Bais Yosef 139, Darchei Moshe 139:1, Shulchan Aruch 141:7, Levush 7, Lekutei Maharich 1:page 187 (new), Aruch Ha’shulchan 9, Kaf Ha’chaim 38. The chazzon bringing the sefer Torah to the bimah should also go the shorter way (Magen Avraham 141:7, Mishnah Berurah 25, Kaf Ha’chaim 37). (33) 141:7, see Levush ibid. (34) Magen Avraham 141:8, Machtzis Ha’shekel, Be’er Heitiv 141:7, Elya Rabbah 9, Sharei Ephraim 4:1, Chai Adom 31:10, Mishnah Berurah 26, Aruch Ha’shulchan 11. (35) Refer to poskim in footnote above. (36) Shulchan Aruch 139:4, Ben Ish Chai Toldos 2:18, Kaf Ha’chaim 23. (37) Mishnah Berurah 16. (38) Refer to Eishel Avraham Butchatch 140:3, Sharei Ephraim 4:3, Kaf Ha’chaim 23. . (39) Refer to Magen Avraham 6, Taz 4, Levush 5, Mishnah Berurah 17, Aruch Ha’shulchan 12, Orchos Rabbeinu 3:page 214:39 quoting the opinion of the Chazzon Ish. Refer to Biur Halacha “ro’eh.” This is the custom of Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. (40) Sharei Ephraim 4:3. (41) Elya Rabbah 7, Pri Megadim Eishel Avraham 6. (42) Orchos Rabbeinu 3:page 214:39, see Halacha Berurah 139:7.