Gelilah
In times past, the magbiah would roll the Sefer Torah closed after lifting it. The Gemara229 states that the one who rolls the Sefer Torah receives a reward equivalent to all those who participated in Kerias HaTorah. Ashkenazic custom has become that a separate honoree (the goleil) is called up to roll the Sefer Torah closed along with the magbiah.230 Nevertheless, since the magbiah is the primary one who rolls it, he is the one who receives all the reward.231 Although the mitzvah of gelilah is great, the custom allows for young children to be given the honor of gelilah. The child should be old enough to understand the proper treatment of a holy item.232
After the magbiah lifts the Sefer Torah and sits down, the goleil rolls the Sefer Torah closed. A belt is fastened around the Sefer Torah and its cover is put on. The belt should be fastened on the side of the Sefer Torah that has the words so that there is no need to turn over the Sefer Torah to open it.233 Some are particular that the belt should be placed on the upper third of the Sefer Torah,234 similar to the halachah regarding a mezuzah which is positioned on the upper third of the doorpost. However, others hold that there is no reason to be particular about this.235
Care must be taken that the goleil does not touch the actual klaf of the Sefer Torah with his bare hands.236
One should wait for the goleil to finish covering the Sefer Torah before one recites the berachos before the haftorah. Similarly, when there are two Sifrei Torah, the second Sefer Torah should not be opened until the first one is rolled closed and covered.237 There is, however, no need to wait for the goleil to finish before reciting the Yehi Ratzon on Monday and Thursday mornings. 238 Likewise, in communities where Ashrei and Uva LeTziyon are recited before the Sefer Torah is returned, they may begin during gelilah.239
Both the magbiah and the goleil are to walk along with the Sefer Torah as it is carried back to the Aron Kodesh.240
229 Megillah 32a.
230 Rema 147:4.
231 Mishnah Berurah 147:5. Chiddushei Basra (end of Pesachim) adds that the magbiah should be sure to participate in the rolling of the Sefer Torah so that he, too, is involved in this mitzvah. However, the Chazon Ish is quoted (Orchos Rabbeinu I, p. 143) as saying that both the magbiah and the goleil receive this reward. In some Chassidic communities, the magbiah places the Sefer Torah back on the bimah and rolls it up himself before picking it up once again to hold it before sitting down, see Sha’arei Halachah U’minhag, Orach Chaim 86. See also Aruch Hashulchan 147:9 who mentions this custom.
232 Mishnah Berurah 147:7. Obviously, the child must also be able to perform gelilah correctly.
233 Hakeriah BaTorah V’hilchosehah 55:15, based on Rema 147:4.
234 See Darkei Chaim VeShalom 225 citing Divrei Chaim. See also Divrei Yatziv I:77.
235 Teshuvos Maharshag II:4:2.
236 Shulchan Aruch 147:1; see also Salmas Chaim 148.
237 Shulchan Aruch 147:8 with Mishnah Berurah.
238 Shulchan Aruch 147:7 with Mishnah Berurah, and 284:6 with Mishnah Berurah.
239 Eishel Avraham (Buczacz) 147:7.
240 Rema 149:1 with Mishnah Berurah 8. [Ketzos Hashulchan (25, Baddei Hashulchan 61) writes that this does not apply to the goleil in congregations that recite Ashrei and Uva LeTziyon before the Sefer Torah is returned.]