Tag: parsha
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Chumash
חומש – The five books of the Torah, the first five of Tanach: Bereshit, Shemot, Vayikra, Bemidbar, and Devarim (as we call them today); in English, via Greek and Latin: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. On other terms used for Chumash and its books, see my Introduction to Sefer Bereshit. As the Written Torah…
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Four Parshiyot
Among the special Shabbatot in the calendar year, there are four preceding Pesach known as the Four Parshiyot (Arba Parshiyot – ארבע פרשיות), during which special maftir and haftarah portions are read. In distinction to special Shabbatot that coincide with holidays, the Four Parshiyot do not have a coinciding occasion. Rather, they are tied to…
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Parsha
The common meaning of parashah (plural: parshiyot; colloquially, “parsha”) is the weekly Torah portion. The Torah (also called Chumash, or the first five books of the Bible) is divided into sections read cyclically. Reading Cycles There are two cycles for reading: (1) An annual cycle of 54 portions, meaning that you read the entire Torah…
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Special Shabbatot
On special Shabbatot throughout the calendar year, marking holidays and occasions, the regular haftarah (and maftir) are superseded by special readings for the occasion, which relate to the themes of the time of year. Shabbat Rosh Chodesh When Shabbat coincides with Rosh Chodesh, a different haftarah is read: Yeshayahu 66:1-24, and the maftir is Bemidbar…