Calling two brothers to the Torah – Ask the Rabbi
Q. Is it true that two brothers may not be called to the Torah one after the other?
A. Yes. The same applies to a father and son, and according to some even a grandfather and grandson.
The usual explanation is that this is to prevent the evil eye of malice on the part of envious fellow congregants. There may also be some link with the rule that close relatives may not give testimony together in a Jewish court.
The prohibition applies only if the two people are called to the reading of the same Torah scroll without any liturgical intermission. Father and son would, therefore, be able to be called up respectively as Acharon and Maftir because Kaddish comes between the two portions. They can certainly be Chatan Torah and Chatan B’reshit on Simchat Torah.
