The Torah Cycle
The weekly Torah readings are what is read in Jewish and Messianic synagogues and congregations every Shabbat. “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogue every Sabbath” (Acts 15:21). In the synagogue, the Torah begins with Genesis 1:1 in the fall, usually around October. Each week several chapters are read aloud to the congregation. A year later, the congregation finished Deuteronomy and begins Genesis again.
In ancient times, the Torah was read on a three-year cycle, but today it is read over the course of one year. It is divided into fifty-four readings. Each reading is called a parashah, which means “portion.” The names of the weekly portion are derived from a significant Hebrew word in the first sentence of that week’s reading.
In addition to the weekly portion from the Torah, the synagogue reading schedule prescribes a short reading from the Prophets. The reading from the prophets is called the ‘haftarah”, reading. The haftaroth (plural form) are selections from the book of the prophets that the sages chose to accompany the weekly Torah portions. Each of the fifty-four Torah portions has an accompanying haftarah portion.
The synagogue lection designates additional haftarah readings for special Sabbaths, festivals and fast days, resulting in more than eighty haftarah portions over the course of a year.
From FFOZ Torah Club books.
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