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Torah Readings
Level: Intermediate
Each week in synagogue, we read (or, more
accurately, chant, because it is sung) a passage from the Torah. This passage
is referred to as a parshah. The first parshah, for example, is Parashat
Bereishit, which covers from the beginning of Genesis to the story of Noah.
There are 54 parshahs, one for each week of a leap year, so that in the course
of a year, we read the entire Torah (Genesis
to Deuteronomy) in our services. During non-leap years, there are 50 weeks,
so some of the shorter portions are doubled up. We reach the last portion
of the Torah around a holiday called Simchat
Torah (Rejoicing in the Law), which occurs in October, a few weeks after
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year). On Simchat Torah,
we read the last portion of the Torah, and proceed immediately to the first
paragraph of Genesis, showing that the Torah is a circle, and never ends.
In the synagogue service, the weekly parshah is followed by a passage from
the prophets, which is referred to as a haftarah. Contrary to common
misconception, "haftarah" does not mean "half-Torah." The word comes
from the Hebrew root Feh-Tet-Resh and means "Concluding Portion". Usually,
haftarah portion is no longer than one chapter, and has some relation to
the Torah portion of the week.
The Torah and haftarah readings are performed with great ceremony: the Torah
is paraded around the room before it is brought to rest on the bimah (podium).
The reading is divided up into portions, and various members of the congregation
have the honor of reciting a blessing over a portion of the reading. This
honor is referred to as an aliyah (literally, ascension).
The first aliyah of any day's reading is reserved for a
kohein, the second for a
Levite, and priority for subsequent aliyoth are
given to people celebrating major life events, such as
marriage or the birth
of a child. In fact, a Bar Mitzvah was
originally nothing more than the first aliyah of a boy who had reached the
age to be permitted such an honor. Celebrants of life events are ordinarily
given the last aliyah, which includes blessing the last part of the Torah
reading as well as blessing the haftarah reading. The person given this honor
is referred to as the maftir, from the same root as haftarah, meaning "the
one who concludes."
For more information about services, see
Jewish Liturgy.
Jewish scriptures are sometimes bound in a form that corresponds to this
division into weekly readings. Scriptures bound in this way are generally
referred to as a chumash. The word "chumash" comes from the Hebrew word meaning
five, and refers to the five books of the Torah. Sometimes, a chumash is
simply refers to a collection of the five books of the Torah. But often,
a chumash contains the entire first five books, divided up by the weekly
parshiyot, with the haftarah portion inserted after each week's parshah.
Below is a table of the regular weekly scriptural readings. Haftarot in
parentheses indicate Sephardic ritual where
it differs from Ashkenazic. There are other
variations on the readings, but these are the most commonly used ones. If
you want to know the reading for this week, check the
Current Calendar.
There are additional special readings for certain holidays and other special
days, listed in a separate table below.
| Parashat |
Torah |
Haftarah |
| Bereishit |
Genesis 1:1-6:8 |
Isaiah 42:5-43:11
(Isaiah 42:5-42:21) |
| Noach |
Genesis 6:9-11:32 |
Isaiah 54:1-55:5
(Isaiah 54:1-10) |
| Lekh Lekha |
Genesis 12:1-17:27 |
Isaiah 40:27-41:16 |
| Vayeira |
Genesis 18:1-22:24 |
II Kings 4:1-4:37
(II Kings 4:1-4:23) |
| Chayei Sarah |
Genesis 23:1-25:18 |
I Kings1:1-1:31 |
| Toldot |
Genesis 25:19-28:9 |
Malachi 1:1-2:7 |
| Vayeitzei |
Genesis 28:10-32:3 |
Hosea 12:13-14:10
(Hosea 11:7-12:12) |
| Vayishlach |
Genesis 32:4-36:43 |
Hosea 11:7-12:12
(Obadiah1:1-1:21) |
| Vayyeshev |
Genesis 37:1-40:23 |
Amos 2:6-3:8 |
| Miqeitz |
Genesis 41:1-44:17 |
I Kings 3:15-4:1 |
| Vayigash |
Genesis 44:18-47:27 |
Ezekiel 37:15-37:28 |
| Vayechi |
Genesis 47:28-50:26 |
I Kings 2:1-12 |
| Shemot |
Exodus 1:1-6:1 |
Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-29:23
(Jeremiah 1:1-2:3) |
| Va'eira |
Exodus 6:2-9:35 |
Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 |
| Bo |
Exodus 10:1-13:16 |
Jeremiah 46:13-46:28 |
| Beshalach |
Exodus 13:17-17:16 |
Judges 4:4-5:31
(Judges 5:1-5:31) |
| Yitro |
Exodus 18:1-20:23 |
Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-9:6
(Isaiah 6:1-6:13) |
| Mishpatim |
Exodus 21:1-24:18 |
Jeremiah 34:8-34:22; 33:25-33:26 |
| Terumah |
Exodus 25:1-27:19 |
I Kings 5:26-6:13 |
| Tetzaveh |
Exodus 27:20-30:10 |
Ezekiel 43:10-43:27 |
| Ki Tisa |
Exodus 30:11-34:35 |
I Kings 18:1-18:39
(I Kings 18:20-18:39) |
| Vayaqhel |
Exodus 35:1-38:20 |
I Kings 7:40-7:50
(I Kings 7:13-7:26) |
| Pequdei |
Exodus 38:21-40:38 |
I Kings 7:51-8:21
(I Kings 7:40-7:50) |
| Vayiqra |
Leviticus 1:1-5:26 |
Isaiah 43:21-44:23 |
| Tzav |
Leviticus 6:1-8:36 |
Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22-9:23 |
| Shemini |
Leviticus 9:1-11:47 |
II Samuel 6:1-7:17
(II Samuel 6:1-6:19) |
| Tazria |
Leviticus 12:1-13:59 |
II Kings 4:42-5:19 |
| Metzora |
Leviticus 14:1-15:33 |
II Kings 7:3-7:20 |
| Acharei Mot |
Leviticus 16:1-18:30 |
Ezekiel 22:1-22:19
(Ezekiel 22:1-22:16) |
| Qedoshim |
Leviticus 19:1-20:27 |
Amos 9:7-9:15
(Ezekiel 20:2-20:20) |
| Emor |
Leviticus 21:1-24:23 |
Ezekiel 44:15-44:31 |
| Behar |
Leviticus 25:1-26:2 |
Jeremiah 32:6-32:27 |
| Bechuqotai |
Leviticus 26:3-27:34 |
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 |
| Bamidbar |
Numbers 1:1-4:20 |
Hosea 2:1-2:22 |
| Nasso |
Numbers 4:21-7:89 |
Judges 13:2-13:25 |
| Beha'alotkha |
Numbers 8:1-12:16 |
Zechariah 2:14-4:7 |
| Shelach |
Numbers 13:1-15:41 |
Joshua 2:1-2:24 |
| Qorach |
Numbers 16:1-18:32 |
I Samuel 11:14-12:22 |
| Chuqat |
Numbers 19:1-22:1 |
Judges 11:1-11:33 |
| Balaq |
Numbers 22:2-25:9 |
Micah 5:6-6:8 |
| Pinchas |
Numbers 25:10-30:1 |
I Kings 18:46-19:21 |
| Mattot |
Numbers 30:2-32:42 |
Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 |
| Masei |
Numbers 33:1-36:13 |
Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4
(Jeremiah 2:4-28; 4:1-4:2) |
| Devarim |
Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 |
Isaiah 1:1-1:27 |
| Va'etchanan |
Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11 |
Isaiah 40:1-40:26 |
| Eiqev |
Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 |
Isaiah 49:14-51:3 |
| Re'eh |
Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 |
Isaiah 54:11-55:5 |
| Shoftim |
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 |
Isaiah 51:12-52:12 |
| Ki Teitzei |
Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 |
Isaiah 54:1-54:10 |
| Ki Tavo |
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 |
Isaiah 60:1-60:22 |
| Nitzavim |
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 |
Isaiah 61:10-63:9 |
| Vayeilekh |
Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30 |
Isaiah 55:6-56:8 |
| Ha'azinu |
Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 |
II Samuel 22:1-22:51 |
| Vezot Haberakhah |
Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 |
Joshua 1:1-1:18
(Joshua 1:1-1:9) |
Below are additional readings for holidays and special shabbats. Haftarot
in parentheses indicate Sephardic ritual
where it differs from Ashkenazic. Note
that on holidays, the Maftir portion ordinarily comes from a different Torah
scroll. The Maftir portion is usually the Torah portion that institutes the
holiday or specifies the holiday's
offerings.
| Parashat |
Torah |
Maftir |
Haftarah |
| Rosh Hashanah, Day 1 |
Gen 21:1-34 |
Num 29:1-6 |
I Sam 1:1-2:10 |
| Rosh Hashanah, Day 2 |
Gen 22:1-24 |
Jer 31:1-19 |
| Shabbat Shuvah |
|
|
Hos 14:2-10
Mic 7:18-20 |
| Yom Kippur, Morning |
Lev 16:1-34 |
Num 29:7-11 |
Is 57:14-58:14 |
| Yom Kippur, Afternoon |
Lev 18:1-30 |
|
Jonah 1:1-4:11
Micah 7:18-20 |
| Sukkot, Day 1 |
Lev 22:26-23:44 |
Num 29:12-16 |
Zech 14:1-21 |
| Sukkot, Day 2 |
I Kings 8:2-21 |
| Sukkot, Chol Ha-moed Day 1 |
Num 29:17-25 |
|
|
| Sukkot, Chol Ha-moed Day 2 |
Num 29:20-28 |
|
|
| Sukkot, Chol Ha-moed Day 3 |
Num 29:23-31 |
|
|
| Sukkot, Chol Ha-moed Day 4 |
Num 29:26-34 |
|
|
| Sukkot, Intermediate Shabbat |
Ex 33:12-34:26 |
|
Ezek 38:18-39:16 |
| Hoshanah Rabbah |
Num 29:26-34 |
|
|
| Shemini Atzeret |
Deut 14:22-16:17 |
Num 29:35-30:1 |
I Ki 8:54-9:1 |
| Simchat Torah |
Deut 33:1-34:12
Gen 1:1-2:3 |
Num 29:35-30:1 |
Josh 1:1-18
(Josh 1:1-9) |
| Chanukkah, Day 1 |
Num 7:1-17 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 2 |
Num 7:18-29 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 3 |
Num 7:24-35 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 4 |
Num 7:30-41 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 5 |
Num 7:36-47 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 6
(Rosh Chodesh) |
Num 28:1-15
Num 7:42-47 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 7 (not
Rosh Chodesh) |
Num 7:48-59 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 7
(Rosh Chodesh) |
Num 28:1-15
Num 7:42-47 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, Day 8 |
Num 7:54-8:4 |
|
|
| Chanukkah, First Shabbat |
|
Day 6: Num 28:9-15 |
Zech 2:14-4:7 |
| Chanukkah, Second Shabbat |
|
Num 7:54-8:4 |
I Ki 7:40-50 |
| Sheqalim |
|
Ex 30:11-16 |
II Ki 11:17-12:17
(II Ki 12:1-17) |
| Zakhor |
Deut 25:17-19 |
|
I Sam 15:1-34 |
| Purim |
Ex 17:8-16 |
|
|
| Parah |
|
Num 19:1-22 |
Ezek 36:16-38
(Ezek 36:16-36) |
| Ha-Chodesh |
|
Ex 12:1-20 |
Ezek 45:16-46:18
(Ezek 45:18-46:18) |
| Shabbat Ha-Gadol |
|
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Mal 3:4-24 |
| Pesach (Passover), Day 1 |
Ex12:21-51 |
Num 28:16-25 |
Josh3:5-7; 5:2-6:1; 6:27
(Josh 5:2-6:1) |
| Pesach (Passover), Day 2 |
Lev 22:26-23:44 |
II Ki 23:1-9; 21-25 |
| Pesach (Passover), Chol Ha-moed Day 1 |
Ex 13:1-16;
Num 28:19-25 |
|
|
| Pesach (Passover), Chol Ha-moed Day 2 |
Ex 22:24-23:19;
Num 28:19-25 |
|
|
| Pesach (Passover), Chol Ha-moed Day 3 |
Ex 34:1-26;
Num 28:19-25 |
|
|
| Pesach (Passover), Chol Ha-moed Day 4 |
Ex 9:1-14;
Num 28:19-25 |
|
|
Pesach (Passover)
Intermediate Shabbat |
Ex 33:12-34:26 |
Num 28:19-25 |
Ezek 37:1-37:14
(Ezek 36:37-37:14) |
| Pesach (Passover), Day 7 |
Ex 13:17-15:26 |
II Sam 22:1-51 |
| Pesach (Passover), Day 8 (weekday) |
Deut 15:19-16:17 |
Is 10:32-12:6 |
| Pesach (Passover), Day 8 (Shabbat) |
Deut 14:22-16:17 |
| Shavu'ot, Day 1 |
Ex19:1-20:23 |
Num 28:26-31 |
Ezek 1:1-28; 3:12 |
| Shavu'ot, Day 2 (weekday) |
Deut 15:19-16:17 |
Hab 2:20-3:19 |
| Shavu'ot, Day 2 (Shabbat) |
Deut 14:22-16:17 |
| Tisha B'Av, Morning |
Deut 4:25-40 |
|
Jer 8:13-9:23 |
| Tisha B'Av, Afternoon |
Ex 32:11-14, 34:1-10 |
|
Isaiah 55:6-56:8
(Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20) |
| Minor Fasts, Morning |
Ex 32:11-14; 34:1-10 |
|
Is 55:6-56:8
(none) |
| Minor Fasts, Afternoon |
Ex 32:11-14; 34:1-10 |
|
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| Shabbat Mevarekhim (Shabbat before
Rosh Chodesh) |
|
|
I Sam 20:18-42 |
| Rosh Chodesh (weekday) |
Num 28:1-15 |
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| Rosh Chodesh
(Shabbat) |
|
Num 28:9-15 |
Is 66:1-24 |
© Copyright 5757-5760 (1997-1999), Tracey R Rich
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