וַיִּקְרָא־בוֹ֩ לִפְנֵ֨י הָרְח֜וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמַּ֗יִם מִן־הָאוֹר֙ עַד־מַחֲצִ֣ית הַיּ֔וֹם נֶ֛גֶד הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים וְאָזְנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־סֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה׃
Il en fit la lecture devant la place qui précède la porte de l’eau, depuis l’aurore jusqu’au milieu de la journée, en présence des hommes, des femmes et de tous ceux qui pouvaient comprendre. Le peuple était tout oreille pour entendre le livre de la loi.
Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing
As soon as he has begun to read in the Torah, it is forbidden to converse even on a Halachic topic. All must listen silently and give heed to what he is reading, as it is said, "And the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the Law" (Nehemiah 8:3). It is likewise forbidden to leave the synagogue while the Torah is being read. But one may leave in the interval between one section and another. A person who is continuously engaged in the study of the Torah, this being his sole occupation, may continue his study while the Law is being read.