Q. When the Torah reading is concluded, we put the Sefer Torah in a temporary box. When Shacharis is over, the Sefer Torah is transported by foot to another place to be stored securely. The shul has only one entrance/exit. It is clear from the Shulchan Aruch that those who want to leave the shul are obligated to accompany the Sefer to its secure location. Is everyone obligated to leave the shul to accompany the Sefer, or is this only obligatory for those who want to leave the shul, meaning that it is permitted to stay in shul if one wishes to do so.
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 149: 1) rules that if the Sefer Torah is kept in a different house and there is only one door, they have to wait and follow and accompany the Sefer until the place where it is kept. However, if there are two doors, they may exit on the second one earlier, yet they still have to wait and accompany the Sefer until it reaches its final resting place.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that on the onset when possible, everyone present in shul should follow the Sefer Torah to the place where it is being kept.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a