Haftarah
Encyclopedia
The haftarah or haftoroh (alt. haphtara, Hebrew
: הפטרה; "parting," "taking leave", plural haftarot or haftoros) is a series of selections from the books of Nevi'im
("Prophets") of the Hebrew Bible
(Tanach) that is publicly read in synagogue
as part of Jewish religious practice
. The Haftarah reading follows the Torah reading
on each Sabbath
and on Jewish festivals and fast day
s. Typically, the haftarah is thematically linked to the parasha (Torah portion) that precedes it. The haftarah is sung in a chant (known as "trop" in Yiddish or "Cantillation
" in English). Related blessings precede and follow the Haftarah reading.
The origin of haftarah reading is lost to history, and several theories have been proposed to explain its role in Jewish practice, suggesting it arose in response to the persecution of the Jews
under Antiochus Epiphanes which preceded the Maccabean revolt, wherein Torah reading was prohibited, or that it was "instituted against the Samaritans, who denied the canon
icity of the Prophets (except for Joshua), and later against the Sadducees
." The Talmud
mentions that a haftarah was read in the presence of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived c.70 CE, and in the Christian
New Testament
several references suggest this Jewish custom was in place during that era.
, they were forbidden from reading
the Torah
and made do with a substitute. When they were again able to read the Torah
, they kept reading the haftarah as well.
An alternative explanation, offered by Rabbis Reuven Margolies and Samson Raphael Hirsch
, is that the haftarah reading was instituted to fight the influence of those sects in Judaism that viewed the Hebrew Bible as consisting only of the Torah
.
But all offered explanations for the origin of reading the haftarah have unanswered difficulties.
Certainly the haftarah was read — perhaps not obligatorily or in all communities — as far back as circa 70 CE: The Talmud mentions that a haftarah was read in the presence of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived at that time.
, or the last person to be called up to the Torah scroll.
Rabbi Yosef Karo
reports that for many years there were no set haftarot: the maftir chose an appropriate passage from the Nevi'im. Over time, certain choices became established in certain communities; in contemporary Jewish observance one may not choose his or her own haftarah, explains Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
, as that would run against accepted custom. Rabbi Karo's explanation, however, helps to explain why communities have varying customs regarding what to read as haftarah.
In most congregations, when a child becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, they will read the haftarah.
Unlike the Torah portion, the haftarah is normally read from a printed book. This may be either a Tanakh
(entire Hebrew Bible), a Chumash (volume containing the Torah with haftarot) or, in the case of the festivals, the prayer book; there are also books containing the haftarot alone in large print. The Koren Tanakh, published by Koren Publishers Jerusalem
is the official Tanakh accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel
for synagogue haftarah reading.
However, according to most halakhic decisors (posqim), it is preferable to read the haftarah out of a parchment scroll, and according to a small minority of posqim (mainly the followers of the Vilna Gaon
), such a parchment scroll is an absolute requirement. According to some older traditions, the haftarot were read out of a special scroll containing just the selections of the Prophetic Books which were used in actual haftarot; this was known as a Sifra De'aftarta (ספרא דאפטרתא), and can still be found in a few communities today, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic; in some communities the scroll is made of paper. These scrolls sometimes contain vowel points and te`amim (cantillation signs), and sometimes do not. However, the Vilna Gaon instituted that haftarot be read only from scrolls which contained the full text of a Prophetic Book (e.g., full text of Joshua, or full text of Judges, or full text of Isaiah), just as a Torah scroll contains the full text of the Pentateuch. These scrolls are written in accordance with the laws of writing Torah scrolls, and thus do not contain vowel points or cantillations signs. Such scrolls are used for the reading of the haftarot in many, perhaps most, Lithuanian-style yeshivot, and in a number of Ashkenazic synagogues, especially in Israel.
In ancient times the haftarah, like the Torah, was translated into Aramaic
as it was read, and this is still done by Yemenite Jews
. The Talmud lays down that, while the Torah must be translated verse by verse, it is permissible to translate other readings in units of up to three verses at a time.
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 books of Nevi'im
in general (presumably for study purposes), and Jews of Iraqi origin to this day preserve separate "Neviim" and "Haftarah" melodies.
Note that although many selections from Nevi'im
are read as haftarot over the course of the year, the books of Nevi'im
are not read in their entirety (as opposed to the Torah
). Since Nevi'im
as a whole is not covered in the liturgy, the melodies for certain rare cantillation
notes which appear in the books of Nevi'im
but not in the haftarot have been forgotten. For more on this, see Nevi'im
.
The Haftarot for the morning of Tisha b'Av, and for the Shabbat preceding it, are, in many synagogues, predominantly read to the cantillation
melody used for the public reading of the Book of Lamentations
, or Eicha.
Leonard Bernstein
employed the Haftarah cantillation melody extensively as a theme in the second movement ("Profanation") of his Symphony No. 1 ("Jeremiah").
, 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 passage from Nevi'im (whether or not in the form of a haftarah) Sabbath afternoons. Although this practice is virtually defunct, most halachic authorities maintain that there is nothing wrong with it.
Rabbi Reuven Margolies claims that the now-widespread custom of individuals' reciting Psalm 111 after the Torah reading Sabbath afternoon derives from the custom reported by Rabbenu Tam. Louis Ginzberg
makes the analogous claim for the custom of reciting Psalm 91 in Motza'ei Shabbat.
s and bar preparatory programs, as a haftarah portion.
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=Chabad
; AP= Poland
); I=Italian custom; S=Sephardic and Mizrahi custom; Y=Yemenite
custom; R=Romaniote
(Byzantine, eastern Roman empire) custom; and K=Karaite custom. When these letters do not appear, all customs agree.
(° however,if Vayeshev occurs on the first Sabbath Hanukkah, which happens occasionally, the Haftarah is Zechariah 2:14–4:7.)
(° however,if Miketz occurs on the first Sabbath Hanukkah, which is usually the case, the Haftarah is Zechariah 2:14–4:7.
If it occurs on the second Sabbath Hanukkah, the Haftarah is 1 Kings 7:40–50)
When a Talmud
ically specified haftarah was to be read on a certain Sabbath (e.g., on Sabbath of Hanukkah
), some communities did not read the bridegroom's haftarah, preferring to keep to the standard haftarah of the week. Again, customs varied:
Nowadays, this custom has virtually disappeared. No one reads a special haftarah for a bridegroom any longer, except the Karaites
.
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: הפטרה; "parting," "taking leave", plural haftarot or haftoros) is a series of selections from the books of Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
("Prophets") of the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
(Tanach) that is publicly read in synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
as part of Jewish religious practice
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. The Haftarah reading follows the Torah reading
Torah reading
Torah reading is a Jewish religious ritual that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a Torah scroll. The term often refers to the entire ceremony of removing the Torah scroll from the ark, chanting the appropriate excerpt with special cantillation, and returning the scroll to...
on each Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
and on Jewish festivals and fast day
Fast Day
Fast Day was a holiday observed in some parts of the United States between 1670 and 1991."A day of public fasting and prayer", it was traditionally observed in the New England states. It had its origin in days of prayer and repentance proclaimed in the early days of the American colonies by Royal...
s. Typically, the haftarah is thematically linked to the parasha (Torah portion) that precedes it. The haftarah is sung in a chant (known as "trop" in Yiddish or "Cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
" in English). Related blessings precede and follow the Haftarah reading.
The origin of haftarah reading is lost to history, and several theories have been proposed to explain its role in Jewish practice, suggesting it arose in response to the persecution of the Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
under Antiochus Epiphanes which preceded the Maccabean revolt, wherein Torah reading was prohibited, or that it was "instituted against the Samaritans, who denied the canon
Biblical canon
A biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious community. The term itself was first coined by Christians, but the idea is found in Jewish sources. The internal wording of the text can also be specified, for example...
icity of the Prophets (except for Joshua), and later against the Sadducees
Sadducees
The Sadducees were a sect or group of Jews that were active in Ancient Israel during the Second Temple period, starting from the second century BC through the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. The sect was identified by Josephus with the upper social and economic echelon of Judean society...
." The Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
mentions that a haftarah was read in the presence of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived c.70 CE, and in the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
several references suggest this Jewish custom was in place during that era.
History
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 in 168 BCE, when the Jews were under the rule of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV EpiphanesAntiochus IV Epiphanes
Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. He was a son of King Antiochus III the Great. His original name was Mithridates; he assumed the name Antiochus after he ascended the throne....
, they were forbidden from reading
Torah reading
Torah reading is a Jewish religious ritual that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a Torah scroll. The term often refers to the entire ceremony of removing the Torah scroll from the ark, chanting the appropriate excerpt with special cantillation, and returning the scroll to...
the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and made do with a substitute. When they were again able to read the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, they kept reading the haftarah as well.
An alternative explanation, offered by Rabbis Reuven Margolies and Samson Raphael Hirsch
Samson Raphael Hirsch
Samson Raphael Hirsch was a German rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism...
, is that the haftarah reading was instituted to fight the influence of those sects in Judaism that viewed the Hebrew Bible as consisting only of the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
.
But all offered explanations for the origin of reading the haftarah have unanswered difficulties.
Certainly the haftarah was read — perhaps not obligatorily or in all communities — as far back as circa 70 CE: The Talmud mentions that a haftarah was read in the presence of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, who lived at that time.
Who reads the haftarah
The haftarah is traditionally read by the maftirMaftir
Maftir properly refers to the last person called to the Torah on Shabbat and holiday mornings: this person also reads the haftarah portion from a related section of the Nevi'im ....
, or the last person to be called up to the Torah scroll.
Rabbi Yosef Karo
Yosef Karo
Joseph ben Ephraim Karo, also spelled Yosef Caro, or Qaro, was author of the last great codification of Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch, which is still authoritative for all Jews pertaining to their respective communities...
reports that for many years there were no set haftarot: the maftir chose an appropriate passage from the Nevi'im. Over time, certain choices became established in certain communities; in contemporary Jewish observance one may not choose his or her own haftarah, explains Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
, as that would run against accepted custom. Rabbi Karo's explanation, however, helps to explain why communities have varying customs regarding what to read as haftarah.
In most congregations, when a child becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, they will read the haftarah.
Haftarah blessings and customs
Blessings both precede and follow the haftarah reading. The blessings are read by the person to read the haftarah portion; the blessing before the haftarah is read in the tune of the haftarah. The Sefardic practice is to recite, immediately after the text of the haftarah and before the concluding blessings, the verse Isaiah 47:4 ("Our Redeemer! The Lord of Hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel!"). The blessings following the haftarah are standard on all occasions the haftarah is read, except for the final blessing, which varies by date and is omitted on some days.Unlike the Torah portion, the haftarah is normally read from a printed book. This may be either a Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
(entire Hebrew Bible), a Chumash (volume containing the Torah with haftarot) or, in the case of the festivals, the prayer book; there are also books containing the haftarot alone in large print. The Koren Tanakh, published by Koren Publishers Jerusalem
Koren Publishers Jerusalem
Koren Publishers Jerusalem is an Israeli publisher of Jewish religious texts. It was established in 1961 by Eliyahu Koren, with the aim of publishing the first Hebrew Bible designed, edited, printed, and bound by Jews in nearly 500 years...
is the official Tanakh accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel
Chief Rabbinate of Israel
The Chief Rabbinate of Israel is recognized by law as the supreme halakhic and spiritual authority for the Jewish people in Israel. The Chief Rabbinate Council assists the two chief rabbis, who alternate in its presidency. It has legal and administrative authority to organize religious...
for synagogue haftarah reading.
However, according to most halakhic decisors (posqim), it is preferable to read the haftarah out of a parchment scroll, and according to a small minority of posqim (mainly the followers of the Vilna Gaon
Vilna Gaon
Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman Kramer, known as the Vilna Gaon or Elijah of Vilna and simply by his Hebrew acronym Gra or Elijah Ben Solomon, , was a Talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and the foremost leader of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries...
), such a parchment scroll is an absolute requirement. According to some older traditions, the haftarot were read out of a special scroll containing just the selections of the Prophetic Books which were used in actual haftarot; this was known as a Sifra De'aftarta (ספרא דאפטרתא), and can still be found in a few communities today, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic; in some communities the scroll is made of paper. These scrolls sometimes contain vowel points and te`amim (cantillation signs), and sometimes do not. However, the Vilna Gaon instituted that haftarot be read only from scrolls which contained the full text of a Prophetic Book (e.g., full text of Joshua, or full text of Judges, or full text of Isaiah), just as a Torah scroll contains the full text of the Pentateuch. These scrolls are written in accordance with the laws of writing Torah scrolls, and thus do not contain vowel points or cantillations signs. Such scrolls are used for the reading of the haftarot in many, perhaps most, Lithuanian-style yeshivot, and in a number of Ashkenazic synagogues, especially in Israel.
In ancient times the haftarah, like the Torah, was translated into Aramaic
Targum
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
as it was read, and this is still done by Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen . Between June 1949 and September 1950, the overwhelming majority of Yemen's Jewish population was transported to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet...
. The Talmud lays down that, while the Torah must be translated verse by verse, it is permissible to translate other readings in units of up to three verses at a time.
Haftarah cantillation
The haftarah is read with cantillationCantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
according to a unique melody (not with the same cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
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 books of Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
in general (presumably for study purposes), and Jews of Iraqi origin to this day preserve separate "Neviim" and "Haftarah" melodies.
Note that although many selections from Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
are read as haftarot over the course of the year, the books of Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
are not read in their entirety (as opposed to the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
). Since Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
as a whole is not covered in the liturgy, the melodies for certain rare cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
notes which appear in the books of Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
but not in the haftarot have been forgotten. For more on this, see Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
.
The Haftarot for the morning of Tisha b'Av, and for the Shabbat preceding it, are, in many synagogues, predominantly read to the cantillation
Cantillation
Cantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
melody used for the public reading of the Book of Lamentations
Book of Lamentations
The Book of Lamentations ) is a poetic book of the Hebrew Bible composed by the Jewish prophet Jeremiah. It mourns the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple in the 6th Century BCE....
, or Eicha.
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
employed the Haftarah cantillation melody extensively as a theme in the second movement ("Profanation") of his Symphony No. 1 ("Jeremiah").
Haftarot on Sabbath afternoon
Some RishonimRishonim
"Rishon" redirects here. For the preon model in particle physics, see Harari Rishon Model. For the Israeli town, see Rishon LeZion.Rishonim were the leading Rabbis and Poskim who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulkhan Arukh and...
, including Rabbenu Yaakov Tam, report that a custom in the era of the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
was to read a haftarah at the mincha
Mincha
Mincha, מנחה is the afternoon prayer service in Judaism.-Etymology:The name "Mincha" is derived from the meal offering that accompanied each sacrifice.-Origin:...
service each Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
afternoon — but that this haftarah was from the Ketuvim
Ketuvim
Ketuvim or Kəṯûḇîm in actual Biblical Hebrew is the third and final section of the Tanak , after Torah and Nevi'im . In English translations of the Hebrew Bible, this section is usually entitled "Writings" or "Hagiographa"...
rather than from the Nevi'im
Nevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
. 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
Geonim
Geonim were the presidents of the two great Babylonian, Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita, in the Abbasid Caliphate, and were the generally accepted spiritual leaders of the Jewish community world wide in the early medieval era, in contrast to the Resh Galuta who wielded secular authority...
, some communities, including some in Persia, read a passage from Nevi'im (whether or not in the form of a haftarah) Sabbath afternoons. Although this practice is virtually defunct, most halachic authorities maintain that there is nothing wrong with it.
Rabbi Reuven Margolies claims that the now-widespread custom of individuals' reciting Psalm 111 after the Torah reading Sabbath afternoon derives from the custom reported by Rabbenu Tam. Louis Ginzberg
Louis Ginzberg
Rabbi Louis Ginzberg was a Talmudist and leading figure in the Conservative Movement of Judaism of the twentieth century. He was born on November 28, 1873, in Kovno, Lithuania; he died on November 11, 1953, in New York City.-Biographical background:...
makes the analogous claim for the custom of reciting Psalm 91 in Motza'ei Shabbat.
Haftarah as a B'nai Mitzvah ritual
In many communities the haftarah is read by a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah at his or her respective ceremonies, along with some, all, or, sometimes none of the Torah portion. This is often referred to, mainly in Hebrew schoolHebrew school
Hebrew school can be either the Jewish equivalent of Sunday school - an educational regimen separate from secular education, focusing on topics of Jewish history and learning the Hebrew language, or a primary, secondary or college level educational institution where some or all of the classes are...
s and bar preparatory programs, as a haftarah portion.
List of Haftarot
The selection from Nevi'imNevi'im
Nevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
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=Chabad
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
; AP= Poland
Polin
Some Jewish historians say the Hebrew word for 'Poland' is pronounced as Polania or Polin in Hebrew. As transliterated into Hebrew, these names for Poland were interpreted as "good omens" because Polania can be broken down into three Hebrew words: po , lan , ya , and Polin into two words of: po lin...
); I=Italian custom; S=Sephardic and Mizrahi custom; Y=Yemenite
Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen . Between June 1949 and September 1950, the overwhelming majority of Yemen's Jewish population was transported to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet...
custom; R=Romaniote
Romaniotes
The Romaniotes or Romaniots are a Jewish population who have lived in the territory of today's Greece and neighboring areas with large Greek populations for more than 2,000 years. Their languages were Yevanic, a Greek dialect, and Greek. They derived their name from the old name for the people...
(Byzantine, eastern Roman empire) custom; and K=Karaite custom. When these letters do not appear, all customs agree.
Haftarot for Genesis
- BereshitBereishit (parsha)Bereishit, Bereshit, Bereishis, B'reshith, Beresheet, or Bereshees is the first weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. The parshah consists of Genesis . Jews read it on the first Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October...
(1:1–6:8)- A: Isaiah 42:5–43:10
- S, AF, AH, AP: Isaiah 42:5–21
- Portuguese (acc to Dotan): Isaiah 42:5–21, and 61:10, and 62:5
- I: Isaiah 42:1–21
- Y: Isaiah 42:1–16
- R; Isaiah 65:16–66:11
- K: Isaiah 65:7–66:13
- NoachNoach (parsha)Noach or Noah is the second weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis . Jews read it on the second Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October or November....
(6:9–11:32)- A, Y, I, Maghreb: Isaiah 54:1–55:5
- some Y communities: Isaiah 54:1–55:3
- S, AF, AH: Isaiah 54:1–10
- K, R: Isaiah 54:9–55:12
- A, Y, I, Maghreb: Isaiah 54:1–55:5
- Lech-LechaLech-LechaLech-Lecha, Lekh-Lekha, or Lech-L'cha is the third weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis Jews read it on the third Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October or November....
(12:1–17:27)- A, S: Isaiah 40:27–41:16
- Y,I: Isaiah 40:25–41:17
- R: Joshua 24:3–23
- K: Joshua 24:3–18
- VayeraVayeiraVayeira, Vayera, or Va-yera is the fourth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis Jews read it on the fourth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in October or November....
(18:1–22:24)- A, Y, AH, I, Algiers: 2 Kings 4:1–37
- S, AF, AP: 2 Kings 4:1–23
- R: Isaiah 33:17–34:13
- K: Isaiah 33:17–35:10
- Chayei SarahChayei SarahChayei Sarah, Chaye Sarah, or Hayye Sarah is the fifth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis Jews read it on the fifth Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in November....
(23:1–25:18)- A, S, Y, DardaiDor DaimThe Dardaim or Dor daim , are adherents of the Dor Deah movement in Judaism. That movement was founded in 19th century Yemen by Rabbi Yiḥyah Qafiḥ, and had its own network of synagogues and schools.Its objects were:...
communities: 1 Kings 1:1–31 - I: 1 Kings 1:1–34
- K, R: Isaiah 51:2–22
- A, S, Y, Dardai
- ToledotToledotToledot, Toldot, or Tol'doth is the sixth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis...
(25:19–28:9)- A, S, I: Malachi 1:1–2:7
- Y: Malachi 1:1–3:4
- K, R: Isaiah 65:23–66:18
- VayetzeVayetzeVayetze, Vayeitzei, or Vayetzei is the seventh weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis . Jews in the Diaspora read it the seventh Sabbath after Simchat Torah, generally in November or December.The parshah tells of Jacob’s travels to, life in, and...
(28:10–32:3) (S.R. Hirsch notes that there are conflicting traditions about Vayetze; what follows is as given in Hirsch, Hertz, Jerusalem Crown, & the Koren Bibles)- A: Hosea 12:13–14:10 (and some, including the PerushimPerushimThe Perushim were disciples of the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, who left Lithuania at the beginning of the 19th century to settle in the Land of Israel, then under Ottoman rule...
, add at end Joel 2:26–27) - S (also A, acc to Cassuto, Israeli Defense Forces Bibles): Hosea 11:7–12:12
- K, Amsterdam, Algiers, some Maghreb (and S, acc to ArtScroll): Hosea 11:7–13:5
- Y, I, AH, Baghdad, Djerba: Hosea 11:7–12:14
- R: Hosea 12:13–14:3
- A: Hosea 12:13–14:10 (and some, including the Perushim
- VayishlachVayishlachVayishlach or Vayishlah is the eighth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading...
(32:4–36:43)- A: Hosea 11:7–12:12
- S, Y, I, R, K, AH (and many A, acc to Dotan): Obadiah 1:1–21, end.
- VayeshevVayeshevVayeshev, Vayeishev, or Vayesheb is the ninth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading...
(37:1–40:23)- Amos 2:6–3:8
- R: Isaiah 32:18–33:18
- K: Isaiah 32:18–33:22
(° however,if Vayeshev occurs on the first Sabbath Hanukkah, which happens occasionally, the Haftarah is Zechariah 2:14–4:7.)
- MiketzMiketzMiketz or Mikeitz is the tenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. It constitutes Genesis Jews in the Diaspora read it the tenth Sabbath after Simchat Torah. Generally, it is read on the Sabbath of Chanukah...
(41:1–44:17)- 1 Kings 3:15–4:1 °
- I: 1 Kings 3:15–28
- R: Isaiah 29:7–30:4
- K: Isaiah 29:7–24
(° however,if Miketz occurs on the first Sabbath Hanukkah, which is usually the case, the Haftarah is Zechariah 2:14–4:7.
If it occurs on the second Sabbath Hanukkah, the Haftarah is 1 Kings 7:40–50)
- VayigashVayigashVayigash or Vaigash is the eleventh weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading...
(44:18;–47:27)- Ezekiel 37:15–28
- R: Joshua 14:6–15:6
- K: Joshua 14:6–14:15
- VayechiVayechiVayechi, Vayehi, or Vayhi is the twelfth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the last in the Book of Genesis...
(47:28–50:26, end)- 1 Kings 2:1–12
- K, R: 2 Kings 13:14–14:7
Haftarot for Exodus
- ShemotShemot (parsha)Shemot, Shemoth, or Shemos is the thirteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the first in the book of Exodus...
(1:1–6:8)- A: Isaiah 27:6–28:13 & 29:22–23
- K, R, AH: Isaiah 27:6–28:13
- S, I: Jeremiah 1:1–2:3
- Y (also Algiers, Baghdad, Fez, Persia): Ezekiel 16:1–14 (acc to Dotan, 16:1–13)
- Va'eiraVa'eiraVa'eira, Va'era, or Vaera is the fourteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the book of Exodus...
(6:2–9:35)- A, S: Ezekiel 28:25–29:21
- Y, I: Ezekiel 28:24–29:21
- K, R: Isaiah 42:8–43:5
- BoBo (parsha)Bo is the fifteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Exodus...
(10:1–13:16)- A, S: Jeremiah 46:13–28
- Y, Algiers, Fez, Maghreb: Isaiah 19:1–19:25
- I, Baghdad: Isaiah 18:7–19:25
- R: Isaiah 34:11–36:4
- K: Isaiah 34:11–35:10
- BeshalachBeshalachBeshalach, Beshallach, or Beshalah is the sixteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Exodus...
(13:17–17:16)- A, AH: Judges 4:4–5:31 (longest Haftarah of the weekly readings)
- Y, Libya, Fez, Istambul: Judges 4:23–5:31
- I: Judges 4:4–5:3
- S: Judges 5:1–5:31
- K, R: Joshua 24:7–24:26
- YitroYitro (parsha)Yitro, Yithro, or Yisro is the seventeenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Exodus...
(18:1–20:26) (includes The Ten Commandments)- A, Baghdad, Algiers: Isaiah 6:1–7:6 & 9:5–6
- S, AH, I: Isaiah 6:1–13
- Y: Isaiah 6:1–6:13 & 9:5–6
- R: Isaiah 33:13–34:10
- K: Isaiah 33:13–34:8
- MishpatimMishpatimMishpatim is the eighteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Exodus...
(21:1–24:18)- A, S: Jeremiah 34:8–22 & 33:25–26
- Y: Jeremiah 34:8–35:19
- I: Jeremiah 34:8–35:11
- R: Isaiah 56:1–57:10
- K: Isaiah 56:1–57:2
- TerumahTerumah (parsha)Terumah or Trumah is the nineteenth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Exodus...
(25:1–27:19)- 1 Kings 5:26–6:13
- R: Isaiah 60:17–62:3
- K: Isaiah 60:17–61:9
- TetzavehTetzavehTetzaveh, Tetsaveh, T'tzaveh, or T'tzavveh is the 20th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Exodus...
(27:20–30:10)- Ezekiel 43:10–27
- K, R: Jeremiah 11:16–12:15
- Ki TisaKi TisaKi Tisa, Ki Tissa, Ki Thissa, or Ki Sisa is the 21st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Exodus...
(30:11–34:35)- A: 1 Kings 18:1–39
- S, AH, AF, AP: 1 Kings 18:20–39
- I: 1 Kings 18:1–38
- Y: 1 Kings 18:1–46
- R: Isaiah 43:7–44:2
- K: Isaiah 43:7–44:5
- VayakhelVayakhelVayakhel, Wayyaqhel, VaYakhel, Va-Yakhel, Vayak’hel, Vayak’heil, or Vayaqhel is the 22nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 10th in the book of Exodus...
(35:1–38:20)- A: 1 Kings 7:40–50 (AF ends at 8:1)
- S, AH, I :1 Kings 7:13–26
- Y : 1 Kings 7:13–22
- R: 1 Kings 8:1–8:10
- I: 1 Kings 8:1–8:20
- K: 1 Kings 8:1–8:19
- PekudeiPekudeiPekudei, Pekude, Pekudey, P’kude, or P’qude is the 23rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 11th and last in the book of Exodus...
(38:21–40:38, end)- A, AH: 1 Kings 7:51–8:21
- S, Y, Baghdad: 1 Kings 7:40–50
- AF: 1 Kings 7:40–8:1
- PerushimPerushimThe Perushim were disciples of the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, who left Lithuania at the beginning of the 19th century to settle in the Land of Israel, then under Ottoman rule...
: 1 Kings 7:40–8:21
- Perushim
- I: 1 Kings 7:40–51
- R: 1 Kings 7:27–47
- K: Jeremiah 30:18–31:13
Haftarot for Leviticus
- VayikraVayikra (parsha)Vayikra, VaYikra, Va-yikra, or Vayyiqra is the 24th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the first in the book of Leviticus...
(1:1–5:26)- A, S: Isaiah 43:21–44:23
- Y, I, some Maghreb: Isaiah 43:21–44:6
- R: Isaiah 43:21–44:13
- K: Isaiah 53:21–54:23
- TzavTzavTzav, Tsav, Zav, Sav, or in Biblical Hebrew Ṣaw is the 25th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the book of Leviticus...
(6:1–8:36)- A, S: Jeremiah 7:21–8:3; 9:22–23
- Y, AH: Jeremiah 7:21–28; 9:22–23
- I, Fez: Jeremiah 7:21–28
- K, R: Malachai 3:4–3:24, & 3:23
- SheminiSheminiShemini, Sh’mini, or Shmini is the 26th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Leviticus...
(9:1–11:47)- A: 2 SamuelBooks of SamuelThe Books of Samuel in the Jewish bible are part of the Former Prophets, , a theological history of the Israelites affirming and explaining the Torah under the guidance of the prophets.Samuel begins by telling how the prophet Samuel is chosen by...
6:1–7:17 - S, AH: 2 Samuel 6:1-19 (and some add 7:16–17)
- Y, I: 2 Samuel 6:1–7:3
- R: Ezekiel 43:27–44:21
- K: Ezekiel 53:27–54:16
- A: 2 Samuel
- TazriaTazriaTazria, Thazria, Thazri’a, Sazria, or Ki Tazria’ is the 27th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Leviticus...
(12:1–13:59)- 2 Kings 4:42–5:19
- K, R: Isaiah 66:7–66:24, & repeat 66:23
- TazriaTazriaTazria, Thazria, Thazri’a, Sazria, or Ki Tazria’ is the 27th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Leviticus...
–MetzoraMetzora (parsha)Metzora, Metzorah, M’tzora, Mezora, Metsora, or M’tsora is the 28th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Leviticus...
- 2 Kings 7:30–20
- MetzoraMetzora (parsha)Metzora, Metzorah, M’tzora, Mezora, Metsora, or M’tsora is the 28th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Leviticus...
(14:1–15:33)- A, S, AH, R: 2 Kings 7:3–20
- Y, I: 2 Kings 7:1–20 & 13:23
- K: 2 Kings 7:3–18
- AchareiAchareiAcharei, Achrei Mos, Aharei Mot, or Ahare Moth is the 29th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Leviticus...
(16:1–18:30) (both Hirsch and the ArtScroll chumashim note that there is some confusion over the correct Haftarah:)- A (acc to Hirsch, Dotan, & ArtScroll), AH, Ashkenazim in Israel: Amos 9:7–15
- A, S (acc to Hertz), Berlin: Ezekiel 22:1–19
- R: Ezekiel 22:1–20
- S, K, AF (and A, acc to Cassuto, Koren, IDF, & Jerusalem Crown): Ezekiel 22:1–16
- AchareiAchareiAcharei, Achrei Mos, Aharei Mot, or Ahare Moth is the 29th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Leviticus...
–KedoshimKedoshim (parsha)Kedoshim, K’doshim, or Qedoshim is the 30th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Leviticus...
- A, AH: Amos 9:7–15
- S: Ezekiel 20:2–20
- KedoshimKedoshim (parsha)Kedoshim, K’doshim, or Qedoshim is the 30th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Leviticus...
(19:1–20:27) (again, some confusion)- A (acc to ArtScroll): Ezekiel 22:1–16
- A (acc to Hirsch): Ezekiel 22:1–19
- A (acc to Cassuto, Hertz, IDF, Jerusalem Crown, Dotan, & Koren Bibles): Amos 9:7–15
- S, AH, Y, I (acc to Hirsch): Ezekiel 20:1–20
- S (acc to Cassuto, ArtScroll, Hertz, IDF, Jerusalem Crown, & Koren; some S acc to Hirsch): Ezekiel 20:2–20
- R: Isaiah 3:4–5:17
- K: Isaiah 4:3–5:16
- EmorEmorEmor is the 31st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Leviticus. It constitutes Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in late April or early May...
(21:1–24:23)- Ezekiel 44:15–31
- K, R: Ezekiel 44:25–45:11
- BeharBeharBehar, BeHar, Be-har, or B’har is the 32nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Leviticus...
(25:1–26:2)- A, S: Jeremiah 32:6–27
- AH: Jeremiah 32:6–22
- Y, I: Jeremiah 16:19–17:14
- K, R: Isaiah 24:2–23
- BeharBeharBehar, BeHar, Be-har, or B’har is the 32nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Leviticus...
–BechukotaiBechukotaiBechukotai, Bechukosai, or B'hukkothai is the 33rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 10th and last in the book of Leviticus...
- A, S: Jeremiah 16:19–17:14
- BechukotaiBechukotaiBechukotai, Bechukosai, or B'hukkothai is the 33rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 10th and last in the book of Leviticus...
(26:3–27:34, end) (The person called to read the "curses" (verses 26:14–43) is not called to the scroll by name, and is supposed to read the curses in a whisper and as fast as possible)- A, S, AH: Jeremiah 16:19–17:14
- Y: Ezekiel 34:1–27
- I: Ezekiel 34:1–15
- AP: Ezekiel 34:1–31
- K, R, Iraq: Isaiah 1:19–2:11
Haftarot for Numbers
- BamidbarBamidbar (parsha)Bamidbar, Bemidbar, BeMidbar, or B'midbar is the 34th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the first in the book of Numbers...
(1:1–4:20)- Hosea 2:1–22
- NasoNaso (parsha)Naso or Nasso is the 35th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the book of Numbers. It constitutes Naso is the longest of the 54 weekly Torah portions, with 176 verses...
(4:21–7:89)- Judges 13:2–25
- R: Hosea 4:14–6:2
- K: Judges 13:2–24
- BehaalotechaBehaalotechaBehaalotecha, Beha’alotecha, Beha’alothekha, or Behaaloscha is the 36th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Numbers...
(8:1–12:16)- A, S, I, R, K: Zechariah 2:14–4:7
- Y: Zechariah 2:14–4:9
- Libya: Zechariah 2:14–4:10
- ShlachShlachShlach, Shelach, Sh'lah, Shlach Lecha, or Sh’lah L’kha is the 37th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Numbers. It constitutes Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in June...
(13:1–15:41)- Joshua 2:1–24
- R: Joshua 2:1–21
- K: Joshua 2:1–15
- KorachKorach (parsha)Korach or Korah is the 38th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Numbers...
(16:1–18:32)- 1 Samuel 11:14–12:22
- R: Hosea 10:2–11:8
- K: Hosea 10:2–11:9
- ChukatChukatChukat, Hukath, or Chukkas is the 39th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Numbers. It constitutes . Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in late June or July....
(19:1–22:1)- A, S, I: Judges 11:1–33
- Y: Judges 11:1–40
- R: Judges 11:1–21
- K: Judges 11:1–17
- ChukatChukatChukat, Hukath, or Chukkas is the 39th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Numbers. It constitutes . Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in late June or July....
–BalakBalak (parsha)Balak is the 40th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Numbers...
- Micah 5:6–6:8
- I: Micah 5:4–6:8
- BalakBalak (parsha)Balak is the 40th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Numbers...
(22:2–25:9)- A, S, Y, R, K: Micah 5:6–6:8
- I: Micah 5:4–6:8
- PinchasPinchas (parsha)Pinchas, Pinhas, or Pin’has is the 41st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Numbers...
, (25:10–30:1), before 18 Tamuz- 1 Kings 18:46-19:21
- R: 1 Kings 18:46–19:16
- K: Malachai 2:5–3:3
- PinchasPinchas (parsha)Pinchas, Pinhas, or Pin’has is the 41st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Numbers...
, (25:10–30:1), after 17 Tamuz- Jeremiah 1:1–2:3
- MatotMatotMatot, Mattot, Mattoth, or Matos is the 42nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Numbers...
(30:2–32:42)- A, S, Y, R, K: Jeremiah 1:1–2:3
- I: Joshua 13:15–33
- MatotMatotMatot, Mattot, Mattoth, or Matos is the 42nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Numbers...
–MaseiMaseiMasei, Mas’ei, or Masse is the 43rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 10th and last in the book of Numbers...
- A: Jeremiah 2:4–28, and 3:4.
- S, AH: Jeremiah 2:4–28, and 4:1–2.
- I: Joshua 19:51–21:3.
- MaseiMaseiMasei, Mas’ei, or Masse is the 43rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 10th and last in the book of Numbers...
(33:1–36:13, end)- A: Jeremiah 2:4–28, and 3:4.
- S, AH, R, Y: Jeremiah 2:4–28, and 4:1–2.
- I: Joshua 19:51–21:3.
- K: Joshua 20:1–9.
Haftarot for Deuteronomy
- DevarimDevarim (parsha)Devarim, D’varim, or Debarim is the 44th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the first in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in July or August...
(1:1–3:22)- A, S, I, R, K: Isaiah 1:1–27
- Y: Isaiah 1:21–31
- Libya: Isaiah 22:1–13
- Djerba: Isaiah 22:1–14 (some Djerba end at 1:27)
- Va'etchananVa'etchananVa'etchanan is the 45th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in late July or August...
(3:23–7:11) (includes The Ten Commandments)- A, S, R: Isaiah 40:1–26
- Y: Isaiah 40:1–27 & 41:17
- I: Isaiah 40:1–16
- K: Isaiah 40:1–22
- EikevEikevEikev, Ekev, Ekeb, or Eqeb is the 46th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Deuteronomy...
(7:12–11:25)- Isaiah 49:14–51:3
- R: Isaiah 49:1–51:3
- Libya: Isaiah 49:1–50:10
- K: Isaiah 49:14–50:5
- Re'ehRe'ehRe'eh, Reeh, R'eih, or Ree is the 47th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the book of Deuteronomy...
(11:26–16:17)- Isaiah 54:11–55:5
- K: Isaiah 54:11–56:1
- a few Algerian (acc to Dotan) Isaiah 54:1–10
- ShoftimShoftim (parsha)Shoftim, Shof'tim, or Shofetim is the 48th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Deuteronomy...
(16:18–21:9)- A, S, R, Y: Isaiah 51:12–52:12
- I: 1 Samuel 8:1–22
- K: Isaiah 51:12–52:8
- Ki TeitzeiKi TeitzeiKi Teitzei, Ki Tetzei, Ki Tetse, Ki Thetze, Ki Tese, Ki Tetzey, or Ki Seitzei is the 49th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Deuteronomy...
(21:10–25:19)- A, S, R, Y: Isaiah 54:1–10
- I: 1 Samuel 17:1–37
- K: Isaiah54:1–17
- a few Algerian (acc to Dotan): Isaiah 54:11–55:5
- Ki TavoKi TavoKi Tavo, Ki Thavo, Ki Tabo, Ki Thabo, or Ki Savo is the 50th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the seventh in the book of Deuteronomy...
(26:1–29:8) (The person called to read the list of curses (verses 28:7–-69) is not called to the scroll by name, and is supposed to read the list in a whisper and as fast as possible)- A, S, R, Y: Isaiah 60:1–22
- I: Joshua 8:30–9:27
- K: Isaiah 60:1–16
- NitzavimNitzavimNitzavim, Nitsavim, Nitzabim, Netzavim, or Nesabim is the 51st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Deuteronomy...
(29:9–30:20)- A, S, R: Isaiah 61:10–63:9
- Y: Isaiah 61:9–63:9
- I: Joshua 24:1–18
- Algiers (acc to Dotan): Hosea 14:2–10, and Joel 2:15–27, and Micah 7:18–20
- K: Isaiah 61:10–63:1
- NitzavimNitzavimNitzavim, Nitsavim, Nitzabim, Netzavim, or Nesabim is the 51st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the eighth in the book of Deuteronomy...
–VayelechVayelechVayelech, Vayeilech, VaYelech, Va-yelech, Vayelekh, Va-yelekh, or Vayeleh is the 52nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Deuteronomy...
- Isaiah 61:10–63:9
- VayelechVayelechVayelech, Vayeilech, VaYelech, Va-yelech, Vayelekh, Va-yelekh, or Vayeleh is the 52nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the ninth in the book of Deuteronomy...
(31:1––30)- Isaiah 55:6–56:8
- R: Hosea 14:2–10
- A (acc to Dotan): Hosea 14:2–10, and Joel 2:15–27
- S, AH (acc to Dotan): Hosea 14:2–10, and Micah 7:18–20
- HaazinuHaazinuHaazinu, Ha'azinu, or Ha'Azinu is the 53rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 10th in the book of Deuteronomy...
(32:1––51)- A, S, R: 2 Samuel 22:1–51
- I, Y: Ezekiel 17:22–18:32
- Algiers: Isaiah 61:10–63:9
- K: Hosea 14:2–10
- V'Zot HaBerachahV'Zot HaBerachahV'Zot HaBerachah, VeZot Haberakha, or Zos Habrocho is the 54th and last weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the 11th and last in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Jews generally read it in September or October on the Simchat Torah festival...
(33:1–34:12, end)- A, AH, I: Joshua 1:1–18
- S: Joshua 1:1–9
- Y: Joshua 1:1–9 & 6:27
- K: Joshua 1:1–10
- Portuguese (acc to Dotan): Joshua 1:1–9, and Isaiah 61:1, and Isaiah 62:5.
Haftarot for special Sabbaths, Festivals, and Fast Days
In general, on the dates below, the haftarot below are read, even if that entails overriding the haftara for a Sabbath Torah portion. However, in certain communities, the first two hafatarot below (that for Rosh Hodesh and that for the day preceding Rosh Hodesh) are replaced by the regular weekly haftarah when the weekly reading is Masei or later.- Sabbath coinciding with the day preceding Rosh HodeshRosh ChodeshRosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
, except Rosh Hodesh NisanNisanNisan is the first month of the ecclesiastical year and the seventh month of the civil year, on the Hebrew calendar. The name of the month is Babylonian; in the Torah it is called the month of the Aviv, referring to the month in which barley was ripe. It is a spring month of 30 days...
, TevetTevetTebet is the fourth month of the civil year and the tenth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It follows Kislev and precedes Shevat. It is a winter month of 29 days...
, or AdarAdarAdar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days...
, and except Rosh HashanahRosh HashanahRosh Hashanah , , is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im which occur in the autumn...
- 1 Samuel 20:18–42
- Fez (acc to Dotan): additionally read the regular Haftarah.
- 1 Samuel 20:18–42
- Sabbath coinciding with Rosh Hodesh, except Rosh Hodesh Nisan, Tevet, or Adar, and except Rosh Hashanah
- A, S, K: Isaiah 66:1–24 & repeat 66:23
- Y, AH: Isaiah 66:1–24
- Sabbath immediately preceding the second day of Nisan (Sabbath of Parashat Hahodesh)
- A: Ezekiel 45:16–46:18
- S: Ezekiel 45:18–46:15
- AH: Ezekiel 45:18–46:16
- Y: Ezekiel 45:9–46:11
- I: Ezekiel 45:18–46:18
- Sabbath immediately preceding Passover (Shabbat Hagadol)
- Malachi 3:4–24 & repeat 3:23
- AH, some Maghreb: read the regular Haftora for that week
- Malachi 3:4–24 & repeat 3:23
- First day of PassoverPassoverPassover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
- Joshua 5:2–6:1 & 6:27
- AH: Joshua 3:5–7, 5:2–6:1, & 6:27
- AF and PerushimPerushimThe Perushim were disciples of the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, who left Lithuania at the beginning of the 19th century to settle in the Land of Israel, then under Ottoman rule...
: Joshua 5:2–6:1
- A (acc to Dotan): Joshua 3:5–7,. and 5:2–6:1, and 6:27
- Joshua 5:2–6:1 & 6:27
- Second day of Passover (outside of Eretz Yisrael)
- A, S, AH: 2 Kings 23:1–9 & 23:21–25
- Y: 2 Kings 22:1–7 & 23:21–25
- I: 2 Kings 23:1–9 & 23:21–30
- K: 2 Kings 23:21–30
- Sabbath of the intermediate days of Passover
- A, S: Ezekiel 37:1–17
- AH: Ezekiel 37:1–14
- Y: Ezekiel 36:37–37:14
- I: Ezekiel 36:37–37:17
- A, S: Ezekiel 37:1–17
- Seventh day of Passover
- 2 Samuel 22:1–51 (Aleppo begins at 21:15)
- Eighth day of Passover (outside of Eretz Yisrael)
- Isaiah 10:32–12:6 (Also Yom Ha'atzmautYom Ha'atzmautYom Ha'atzmaut commemorates Israel's declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated on 5 Iyar according to the Hebrew calendar. Yom Ha'atzmaut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day.-History:...
) - I, K: Judges 5:1–31
- Isaiah 10:32–12:6 (Also Yom Ha'atzmaut
- First day of ShavuotShavuotThe festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
- A, S, AH: Ezekiel 1:1–28 & 3:12
- Y: Ezekiel 1:1–2:2 & 3:12
- K: Habakkuk 1:1–3:19
- Second day of Shavuot (outside of Eretz Yisrael)
- HabakkukBook of HabakkukThe Book of Habakkuk is the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the Hebrew Bible. It is attributed to the prophet Habakkuk, and was probably composed in the late 7th century BC. A copy of chapters 1 and 2 is included in the Habakkuk Commentary, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.Chapters 1-2...
2:20–3:19
- Habakkuk
- 9th of AvAvAv is the eleventh month of the civil year and the fifth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. The name is Babylonian in origin and appeared in the Talmud around the 3rd century. This is the only month which is not named in the Bible. It is a summer month of 30 days...
, morning haftarah- A, S, AH: Jeremiah 8:13–9:23
- Y: Jeremiah 6:16–17 & 8:13–9:23
- 9th of Av, afternoon haftarah
- A, AH: Isaiah 55:6–56:8
- most S: Hosea 14:2–10
- Y, I: Hosea 14:2–10 & Micah 7:18–20
- Sabbath coinciding with Rosh HodeshRosh ChodeshRosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
ElulElulElul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days...
- Isaiah 66:1–24 & repeat 66:23
- First day of Rosh Hashanah
- A, S: 1 Samuel 1:1–2:20
- I, Y AH: 1 Samuel 1:1–2:10
- Second day of Rosh Hashanah
- A, S, Y: Jeremiah 31:1–19
- I, AH: Jeremiah 31:1–20
- Fast of Gedaliah, morning haftarah
- None
- Fast of Gedaliah, afternoon haftarah
- A, Y, AH, some S, some Maghreb: Isaiah 55:6–56:8 (same as used on 9th of Av, afternoon)
- I: Hosea 14:2–10
- (acc to Dotan, most Sefardic congregations have no haftarah for Fast of Gedalia)
- Sabbath before Yom KippurYom KippurYom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
(Shabbat Shuva)- Hosea 14:2–10. Also, communities add either JoelBook of JoelThe Book of Joel is part of the Hebrew Bible. Joel is part of a group of twelve prophetic books known as the Minor Prophets or simply as The Twelve; the distinction 'minor' indicates the short length of the text in relation to the larger prophetic texts known as the "Major Prophets".-Content:After...
2:15–17 or Micah 7:18–20. However, many communities nowadays add both these passages, a custom generally considered baseless. - Some communities read Isaiah 55:6–56:8 instead.
- Hosea 14:2–10. Also, communities add either Joel
- Yom Kippur, morning haftarah
- A, S, AH: Isaiah 57:14–58:14
- Y, I: Isaiah 57:14–58:14 & 59:20–21
- Yom Kippur, afternoon haftarah
- JonahBook of JonahThe Book of Jonah is a book in the Hebrew Bible. It tells the story of a Hebrew prophet named Jonah ben Amittai who is sent by God to prophesy the destruction of Nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission...
(entire), and Micah 7:18–20 - Some communities omit the part from Micah
- Jonah
- First day of SukkotSukkotSukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
- A, S, AH, K: Zechariah 14:1–21
- Y: Zechariah 13:9–14:21
- Second day of Sukkot (outside of Eretz Yisrael)
- A, S, AH: 1 Kings 8:2–21
- Y, I: 1 Kings 7:51–8:16
- Sabbath of the intermediate days of Sukkot
- A, S: Ezekiel 38:18–39:16
- Y: Ezekiel 38:1–38:23
- I: Ezekiel 38:18–39:10
- Shemini AtzeretShemini AtzeretShemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. In the Diaspora, an additional day is celebrated, the second day being separately referred to as Simchat Torah...
(outside of Eretz Yisrael)- 1 Kings 8:54–66
- Simhat Torah
- A, AH, I: Joshua 1:1–18
- S: Joshua 1:1–9
- Y: Joshua 1:1–9 & 6:27
- I: 1 Kings 8:22–53
- First (or only) Sabbath of HanukkahHanukkahHanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
- A, S, AH: Zechariah 2:14–4:7
- Y: Zechariah 2:14–4:9
- Second Sabbath of Hanukkah
- 1 Kings 7:40–50
- I: 1 Kings 7:27–47
- Sabbath immediately preceding the second day of AdarAdarAdar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days...
(or Adar II) (Sabbath of Parashat Shekalim)- A, Y: 2 Kings 12:1–17
- S, AH: 2 Kings 11:17–12:17
- Sabbath immediately preceding PurimPurimPurim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
(Sabbath of Parashat Zachor)- A: 1 Samuel 15:2–34
- S: 1 Samuel 15:1–34
- Y: 1 Samuel 14:52–15:33
- Sabbath Shushan Purim in cities that celebrate it (same as for Zachor)
- A, AH: 1 Samuel 15:2–34
- S: 1 Samuel 15:1–34
- Y: 1 Samuel 14:52–15:33
- Sabbath Shushan Purim in cities that celebrate Purim
- No special haftarah: the usual haftarah for that week's parsha is read
- Sabbath immediately following Shushan Purim (Sabbath of Parashat Parah)
- A: Ezekiel 36:16–38
- S, AH, Y: Ezekiel 36:16–36
- Fast days (other than those listed above), afternoon haftarah
- A, and Algiers (acc to Dotan): Isaiah 55:6–56:8 (same as used on 9th of Av, afternoon)
- S, Y: none
- some Maghreb (acc to Dotan): Hosea 14:2–10, and Micah 7:18–20.
Haftarah for a bridegroom
It was customary in many communities to read Isaiah 61:10 – 63:9 if a bridegroom (who had married within the previous week) was present in the synagogue. Customs varied:- In some communities, this entire haftarah was read, supplanting the usual haftarah of that week.
- In some communities, only a few verses (possibly Isaiah 61:10 – 62:5, although the literature is unclear) were read. They were read after the usual haftarah, either before or after — depending on local custom — the closing blessings of the haftarah.
When a Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ically specified haftarah was to be read on a certain Sabbath (e.g., on Sabbath of Hanukkah
Hanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
), some communities did not read the bridegroom's haftarah, preferring to keep to the standard haftarah of the week. Again, customs varied:
- In some communities, the bridegroom's haftarah was read.
- Some communities, even though they normally read the entire bridegroom's haftarah for a bridegroom, now merely appended a few verses of it to the weekly haftarah.
- Some communities omitted the bridegroom's haftarah altogether, reading the weekly haftarah instead.
Nowadays, this custom has virtually disappeared. No one reads a special haftarah for a bridegroom any longer, except the Karaites
Karaite Judaism
Karaite Judaism or Karaism is a Jewish movement characterized by the recognition of the Tanakh alone as its supreme legal authority in Halakhah, as well as in theology...
.
See also
- Torah readingTorah readingTorah reading is a Jewish religious ritual that involves the public reading of a set of passages from a Torah scroll. The term often refers to the entire ceremony of removing the Torah scroll from the ark, chanting the appropriate excerpt with special cantillation, and returning the scroll to...
- CantillationCantillationCantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
- Nevi'imNevi'imNevi'im is the second of the three major sections in the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh. It falls between the Torah and Ketuvim .Nevi'im is traditionally divided into two parts:...
- Parashah
- Weekly Torah portion
Further reading
- Michael FishbaneMichael FishbaneMichael A. Fishbane is a scholar of Judaism and rabbinic literature. Formerly at Brandeis University, he is currently the Nathan Cummings Professor of Jewish Studies at the Divinity School, University of Chicago....
. The JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2002. ISBN 0-8276-0691-5. - Laura Suzanne Lieber. Study Guide to the JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2002. ISBN 0-8276-0718-0.
- David L. Leiber. "Etz Hayim: Torah & Commentary" available from www.jewishpub.org, 2001.
- Jacob Blumenthal & Janet L. Liss. "Etz Hayim Study Companion" available from the Jewish Publication Society, 2005. ISBN 0-8276-0822-5
- Kenneth S. Goldrich. "Yad LaTorah; Laws and Customs of the Torah Service. A Guide for Gabba'im and Torah Readers. ISBN 0-8381-0216-6 Available from the Book Service of www.USCJ.org, 2002
- J. H. Hertz. "The Pentetuch and Haftorahs". Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917.
- Shlomo [David] Katz. The Haftarah: Laws, Customs, & History. Silver Spring, Maryland: Hamaayan/The Torah Spring, 2000.
- W. Gunther PlautGunther PlautWolf Gunther Plaut, CC, O.Ont is a Reform rabbi and author. Plaut was the rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto for several decades and since 1978 is its Senior Scholar....
. The Haftarah Commentary. New York: URJ Press, 1996. ISBN 0-8074-0551-5. - http://www.archivio-torah.it/HTM/indiceaudio.htm Indice dei contenuti audio/video del sito www.torah.it (Italian). Retrieved on 2008-08-03
- Adolf Buchler, "The Reading of the Law and Prophets in a triennial cycle", Jewish Quarterly Review, vol. 5, pp. 420–268 (April 1893) & vol. 6, pp. 1–73 (October 1893).