שולחן ערוך אורח חיים · סימן קמ״ט

English

The Congregation May Not Leave The Synagogue Until they Conceal the Torah Scroll. Containing 1 S'if: The congregation does not have permission to leave the synagogue until after they conceal the Torah scroll. (However, if they are all not leaving, but it's just an individual that is, then that is not an issue) (Beit Yosef in the name of the R'i in Chidushei Megillah). And if they conceal the Torah in another house: if the synagogue has only one entrance, then they must delay until the Torah scroll has left and then they should go after it to the place in which they conceal it. If the synagogue has 2 entrances, they may leave using one entrance before the Torah scroll leaves using the other entrance, as long as they will go after the sefer Torah and escort it to the place where they conceal it. Gloss: And in places where they conceal it in the "heikhal", which is the cabinet [i.e. Ark] within the synagogue, it is a obligation for anyone in front of whom it [i.e. the Torah] passes to escort it up until [it is] in front of the Ark into which they are inserting it (His own opinion, and Mahari"l). And so too, the one who rolls the sefer Torah should go after the Torah until in front of the Ark and stand there until they return the Torah to its place. (Hagahot Maimoni - chapter 12 of Hilkhot Torah). And similarly, we practice that the one who lifts the sefer Torah [follows as well] since this is [considered] the main "roller" as we explained in Siman 147: S'if 4. And there are those who have written that the children come to kiss the Torah in order to educate them and train them to be zealous in [doing] mitzvot, and that is how we practice. (Ohr Zaruah)