minhag - How does Hagbah work on a Sephardic Torah case?

How does one do Hagbah on a Torah in a Sephardic Torah case, such as one of these silver cases (picture courtesy of Hadad Brothers) :

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See also the Ashkenazi version of this question.

Answer

1. While it is on the bimah, turn the Torah around so that the opening is away from you and then open up the scroll. You should be looking at the back of the Torah, standing immediately next to the bimah.


2. Put your right hand so that it is on the right vertical edge of the right side of the case (reverse instructions for lefties), about half way up.


3. Slowly shift the Torah backwards until its edge is starting to come off of the bimah (you can support it with your chest). Once you have room to do so, stick your left hand underneath the bottom of the left side of the case (so you are supporting it underneath with your left hand, and on the side with your right).


4. Let the Torah come the rest of the way off the bimah and support it completely with your hands and chest. Try to lift it up higher if you can.


5. Turn around in a circle (turning to your right). And then carefully put it back down.

Caution: don't try this unless you have some measure of physical strength. This is not like an Ashkenazi torah where balance is the key.

Also, this has nothing to do with the silver case - it is related to the Sefardi-style Torah's (many of which will not have a silver case like the one shown above).