The haftarah is read with cantillation according to a unique melody (not with the same cantillation melody as the Torah). The tradition to read Nevi'im with its own special melody is attested to in late medieval sources, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic. A medieval Sephardic source notes that the melody for the haftarot is a slight variation of the tune used for reading the boo ...

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Haftarah, Haftarah - History, Haftarah - Who reads the haftarah, Haftarah - The haftarah blessings, Haftarah - Haftarah cantillation, Haftarah - Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon, Haftarah - Haftarah as a Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah ritual, Haftarah - List of Haftarot, Haftarah - Haftarot for Genesis, Haftarah - Haftarot for Exodus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Leviticus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Numbers, Haftarah - Haftarot for Deuteronomy, Haftarah - Haftarot for special Sabbaths Festivals and Fast Days, Haftarah - Haftarah for a bridegroom

Read more here: » Haftarah: Encyclopedia II - Haftarah - Haftarah cantillation

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Haftarah, Haftarah - History, Haftarah - Who reads the haftarah, Haftarah - The haftarah blessings, Haftarah - Haftarah cantillation, Haftarah - Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon, Haftarah - Haftarah as a Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah ritual, Haftarah - List of Haftarot, Haftarah - Haftarot for Genesis, Haftarah - Haftarot for Exodus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Leviticus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Numbers, Haftarah - Haftarot for Deuteronomy, Haftarah - Haftarot for special Sabbaths Festivals and Fast Days, Haftarah - Haftarah for a bridegroom

Read more here: » Haftarah: Encyclopedia II - Haftarah - The haftarah blessings

No one knows for certain the origins of reading the haftarah, but several theories have been put forth. The most common explanation, accepted by some traditional Jewish authorities, is that when the Jews were under the rule of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, they were forbidden from reading the Pentateuch and made do with a substitute. When they were again able to read the Pentateuch, they kept ...

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Haftarah, Haftarah - History, Haftarah - Who reads the haftarah, Haftarah - The haftarah blessings, Haftarah - Haftarah cantillation, Haftarah - Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon, Haftarah - Haftarah as a Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah ritual, Haftarah - List of Haftarot, Haftarah - Haftarot for Genesis, Haftarah - Haftarot for Exodus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Leviticus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Numbers, Haftarah - Haftarot for Deuteronomy, Haftarah - Haftarot for special Sabbaths Festivals and Fast Days, Haftarah - Haftarah for a bridegroom

Read more here: » Haftarah: Encyclopedia II - Haftarah - History

Vayetze, Vayeitzei, or Vayetzei (Hebrew for “and he left”) is the seventh weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 28:10–32:3. Jews in the Diaspora read it the seventh Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in November or December. Vayetze - Summary. To escape his brother Esau's vengeance, Jacob traveled to his uncle Laban in Padan-aram, having been charged by Isaac to find a wife there. On the way, God appeared to Jacob at night, prom ...

Including:

Vayetze - Summary Vayetze - Commandments Vayetze - Haftarah

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Some Rishonim, including Rabbenu Yaakov Tam, report that a custom in the era of the Talmud was to read a haftarah at the mincha service each Sabbath afternoon — but that this haftarah was from the Ketuvim rather than from the Nevi'im. Most halachic authorities maintain that that was not the custom in Talmudic times, and that such a custom should not be followed. In the era of the Geonim, some communities, including some in Persia, read a haftarah from Nevi'im Sabbath afternoons. Although this practice is virtually defunct, most ...

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Haftarah, Haftarah - History, Haftarah - Who reads the haftarah, Haftarah - The haftarah blessings, Haftarah - Haftarah cantillation, Haftarah - Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon, Haftarah - Haftarah as a Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah ritual, Haftarah - List of Haftarot, Haftarah - Haftarot for Genesis, Haftarah - Haftarot for Exodus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Leviticus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Numbers, Haftarah - Haftarot for Deuteronomy, Haftarah - Haftarot for special Sabbaths Festivals and Fast Days, Haftarah - Haftarah for a bridegroom

Read more here: » Haftarah: Encyclopedia II - Haftarah - Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon

The selection from Nevi'im read as the haftarah is not always the same in all Jewish communities. When customs differ, this list indicates them as follows: A=Ashkenazic custom (AF=Frankfurt am Main; AH=Habad); I=Italian custom; S=Sephardic and Mizrahi custom (SI=Sephardic (Iberian); SM=Mizrahi; SN=Maghreb); Y=Yemenite custom; Q=Qarai/Karaite custom. ...

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Haftarah, Haftarah - History, Haftarah - Who reads the haftarah, Haftarah - The haftarah blessings, Haftarah - Haftarah cantillation, Haftarah - Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon, Haftarah - Haftarah as a Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah ritual, Haftarah - List of Haftarot, Haftarah - Haftarot for Genesis, Haftarah - Haftarot for Exodus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Leviticus, Haftarah - Haftarot for Numbers, Haftarah - Haftarot for Deuteronomy, Haftarah - Haftarot for special Sabbaths Festivals and Fast Days, Haftarah - Haftarah for a bridegroom

Read more here: » Haftarah: Encyclopedia II - Haftarah - List of Haftarot

The Haftarah is a text selected from the books of Nevi'im which is read publicly in the synagogue after the reading of the Torah on each Sabbath, as well as on Jewish festivals and fast days. See the main article on Haftarah. Certain cantillation marks do not appear in any Haftarah, and most communities do not have a tradition what tune to use for those marks. J.L. Neeman (The Tunes of the Bible - Musical Principles of the Biblical Accentuation, Tel Aviv, 1955 [Hebrew]) suggested that "those who recite Nevi'im privately ...

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Nevi'im, Nevi'im - Former Prophets, Nevi'im - Latter Prophets, Nevi'im - Liturgical Use: The Haftarah, Nevi'im - The Targum to Nevi'im

Read more here: » Nevi'im: Encyclopedia II - Nevi'im - Liturgical Use: The Haftarah

Chayei Sarah (Hebrew for “life of Sarah”) is the fifth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 23:1–25:18. Jews in the Diaspora read it the fifth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in November. Chayei Sarah - Summary. On the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham bargained for and acquired Machpelah for a family tomb. Abraham sent his senior servant to the land of his birth to find a wife for his son Isaac. (Gen. 24:2-4.) By the well outside t ...

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Chayei Sarah - Summary Chayei Sarah - Commandments Chayei Sarah - Haftarah

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Vayechi or Vayehi (ויחי – Hebrew for “and he lived”) is the twelfth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the last in the book of Genesis. It constitutes Genesis 47:28–50:26. Jews in the Diaspora read it the twelfth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in December or January. Vayechi - Summary. When Jacob felt the approach of death, he sent for Joseph and made Joseph swear not to bury him in the land of Egypt. (Gen. 47:28–31.) Sometime afterward, Jo ...

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Vayechi - Summary Vayechi - Commandments Vayechi - Haftarah Vayechi - References in classical sources

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Vayishlach or Vayishlah (וישלח – Hebrew for “and he sent,” the first word of the parshah) is the eighth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 32:4–36:43. Jews in the Diaspora read it the eighth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in late November or December. Vayishlach - Summary. Vayishlach - Jacob wrestles with God. On his return to the land of Canaan, Jacob feared meeting his brother Esau, whom he ...

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Vayishlach - Summary
Vayishlach - Jacob wrestles with God
Vayishlach - Commandment Vayishlach - Haftarah

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Vayigash (ויגש – Hebrew for “and he went up” or “then he went up,” the first word of the parshah) is the eleventh weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 44:18–47:27. Jews in the Diaspora read it the eleventh Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in December or January. Vayigash - Summary. Joseph’s brothers showed themselves fearful and penitent. Judah offered himself as a slave in place of Benjamin. Joseph revealed his identity, forga ...

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Vayigash - Summary Vayigash - Commandments Vayigash - Haftarah Vayigash - References in Classical Sources

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Vayeira or Vayera is the fourth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 18:1-22:24. Jews in the Diaspora read it the fourth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October or November. Vayeira - Summary. Vayeira - Sodom and Gomorrah. God sent Abraham three angels, whom Abraham received hospitably. They announced to Abraham that he would have a son within a year, although he and his wife Sarah were already very old. A ...

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Vayeira - Summary
Vayeira - Sodom and Gomorrah Vayeira - The birth of Isaac Vayeira - The binding of Isaac
Vayeira - Commandments Vayeira - Haftarah

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Vayeshev or Vayeishev (וישב – Hebrew for “and he lived,” the first word of the parshah) is the ninth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 37:1–40:23. Jews in the Diaspora read it the ninth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in December. Vayeshev - Summary. Vayeshev - Joseph the dreamer. Joseph, Jacob's favorite son, was hated by his brothers because of his dreams predicting his future dominion. The b ...

Including:

Vayeshev - Summary
Vayeshev - Joseph the dreamer Vayeshev - Judah and Tamar Vayeshev - Joseph and Potiphar
Vayeshev - Commandments Vayeshev - Haftarah Vayeshev - References in Classical Sources

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Va'eira, Va'era, or Vaera (וארא – Hebrew for “and I appeared” the first word that God speaks in the parshah, in Exodus 6:3) is the fourteenth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 6:2–9:35. Jews in the Diaspora read it the fourteenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in January. Va'eira - Summary. God spoke to Moses, identified Himself as the God of the Patriarchs, and acknowledged hear ...

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Va'eira - Summary
Va'eira - The plagues of Egypt
Va'eira - Commandments Va'eira - Haftarah Va'eira - References in classical sources

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Beshalach, Beshallach, or Beshalah (בשלח – Hebrew for “when [he] let go,” the second word and first distinctive word in the parshah) is the sixteenth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 13:17–17:16. Jews in the Diaspora read it the sixteenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in January or February. Beshalach - Summary. When Pharaoh let the Israelites go, God led the people roundabout ...

Including:

Beshalach - Summary
Beshalach - Parting the Sea of Reeds Beshalach - Bitter water turned sweet Beshalach - Manna in the wilderness Beshalach - Water from a stone Beshalach - Amalek’s attack
Beshalach - Commandments Beshalach - Haftarah Beshalach - References in classical sources

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Bereishit or Bereshit is the first weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis 1:1-6:8. Jews in the Diaspora read it the first Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October. Bereishit parsha - Summary. Bereishit parsha - Creation. The creation narrative in Genesis can be split into two sections. The first section starts with an account of God's Creation of the universe, which occurs in six days. The second secti ...

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Bereishit parsha - Summary
Bereishit parsha - Creation Bereishit parsha - Adam and Eve Bereishit parsha - Cain and Abel Bereishit parsha - The Nephilim
Bereishit parsha - Commandments Bereishit parsha - Haftarah

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Bo (בא – Hebrew for “go,” the first word that God speaks in the parshah, in Exodus 10:1) is the fifteenth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 10:1–13:16. Jews in the Diaspora read it the fifteenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in January or early February. Bo parsha - Summary. Bo parsha - The last plagues of Egypt. After seven plagues, God continued visiting plagues on ...

Including:

Bo parsha - Summary
Bo parsha - The last plagues of Egypt Bo parsha - The first Passover Bo parsha - The plague of the firstborn
Bo parsha - Commandments Bo parsha - Haftarah Bo parsha - References in classical sources

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Yitro (יתרו – Hebrew for Jethro, the second word and first distinctive word in the parshah) is the seventeenth weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Exodus 18:1–20:23. Jews in the Diaspora read it the seventeenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in late January or February. Yitro parsha - Summary. Yitro parsha - Jethro reforms adjudication. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro heard all th ...

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Yitro parsha - Summary
Yitro parsha - Jethro reforms adjudication Yitro parsha - The Ten Commandments
Yitro parsha - Commandments Yitro parsha - Haftarah Yitro parsha - References in classical sources

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To escape his brother Esau's vengeance, Jacob traveled to his uncle Laban in Padan-aram, having been charged by Isaac to find a wife there. On the way, God appeared to Jacob at night, promising protection and aid for him and the land for his numerous descendants. Arrived at Haran, Jacob hired himself to Laban, on condition that, after having served for seven years as a herdsman, he would have for wife Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel, with whom Jacob fell in love. At the end of this period, Laban gave him the elder daughter, Leah. J ...

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Vayetze, Vayetze - Summary, Vayetze - Commandments, Vayetze - Haftarah

Read more here: » Vayetze: Encyclopedia II - Vayetze - Summary

God told Moses to give the people a series of laws (see "Commandments" below), which some scholars call the Covenant Code. (Exodus 21–23.) God invited Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders to bow to God from afar. (Ex. 24:1.) Moses repeated the commandments to the people, who answered: “All the things that the LORD has commanded we will do!” (Ex. 24:3.) Moses then wrote the commandments down. (Ex. 24:4.) He set up an altar and some young Israelite men offered sacrifices. (Ex. 24:4-5.) Moses read the covenant aloud to the peo ...

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Mishpatim, Mishpatim - Summary, Mishpatim - Commandments, Mishpatim - Haftarah

Read more here: » Mishpatim: Encyclopedia II - Mishpatim - Summary