Halachah 1 — The Annual Torah Reading Cycle
The universal custom of Israel is to complete the Torah reading in one year, beginning with Bereishit on the Sabbath after Sukkot and concluding on Sukkot of the following year.
Although some communities once used a three‑year cycle, this practice is not widespread.
Halachah 2 — Arrangement of Sedarim Around the Year
Ezra instituted that the rebukes in:
- Vayikra be read before Shavuot, and
- Devarim be read before Rosh Hashanah.
Customs developed to align parashiyot with the calendar, sometimes requiring combining parashiyot so the Torah cycle concludes on time.
Halachah 3 — Continuity of Weekly Readings
Wherever the Sabbath morning reading ends, that is where the reading resumes:
- at Sabbath Minchah,
- then Monday,
- then Thursday,
- and continues the following Sabbath.
Each Sabbath’s haftarah corresponds to that week’s Torah reading.
Halachah 4 — Torah Reading on Rosh Chodesh
The Torah reading on Rosh Chodesh follows a fixed pattern to preserve continuity.
When Rosh Chodesh falls on:
- Shabbat: two Torah scrolls are taken out, and special haftarot are recited.
- Rosh Chodesh Av on Shabbat: a specifically harsh haftarah is chosen.
- Sunday: the preceding Shabbat features a special haftarah anticipating Rosh Chodesh.
Halachah 5 — Beginning and Ending with Positive Content
Every aliyah should begin and end with positive verses.
An exception is made in Parashat Ha’azinu, where the Torah reading is intentionally divided at points of rebuke, to inspire repentance.
Halachah 6 — The Final Eight Verses of the Torah
The last eight verses of the Torah may be read even without a quorum.
Though they are Torah in every respect, their unique nature permits individual reading.
Halachah 7 — Reading the Tokhachah (Admonitions)
The curses in Vayikra and Devarim should generally be read without interruption by a single reader.
Although Devarim’s rebukes may technically be interrupted, custom avoids doing so.
Halachah 8 — Festival Readings
The regular Torah cycle is interrupted on festivals and Yom Kippur.
On each festival, Torah portions relating to that festival are read, as instituted by Moshe.
It is also proper to teach the laws and themes of the festival publicly.
Halachah 9 — Readings on Pesach
Pesach features specific Torah and haftarah readings for:
- each day of the festival,
- Chol HaMoed,
- and the concluding days.
Custom determines which portions are read on which day.
Halachah 10 — Readings on Shavuot
Shavuot readings include:
- the Sinai revelation,
- and passages emphasizing Torah acceptance.
Appropriate prophetic visions are read as haftarot.
Halachah 11 — Readings on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah readings emphasize:
- remembrance,
- divine judgment,
- covenantal themes.
Yom Kippur readings focus on:
- atonement,
- forbidden relations (to inspire repentance),
- and the Book of Yonah at Minchah.
Halachah 12 — Readings on Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret
Sukkot readings include:
- festival laws,
- daily sacrificial portions,
- and unique haftarot.
On Shemini Atzeret, the Torah reading concludes with Vezot HaBerachah.
Halachah 13 — Torah Reading on Chol HaMoed
On each day of Chol HaMoed, two daily sacrifice sections are read in a structured overlapping pattern to preserve the sequence.
Halachah 14 — Use of Multiple Torah Scrolls
On festivals, Yom Kippur, and Pesach, two Torah scrolls are used:
- one for the day’s primary reading,
- one for the sacrificial section.
The second reader also reads the haftarah.
Halachah 15 — Kaddish with Multiple Scrolls
When multiple Torah scrolls are used, Kaddish is recited after each scroll is returned, according to accepted custom.
Halachah 16 — Shabbat During Chol HaMoed
When Shabbat occurs during Chol HaMoed:
- a special Torah portion is read,
- and an appropriate prophetic vision is selected as the haftarah.
Halachah 17 — Readings on Chanukah and Purim
Chanukah readings describe the offerings of the tribal princes, day by day.
Special haftarot are read on Chanukah Shabbat.
On Purim morning, the portion Vayavo Amalek is read.
Halachah 18 — Readings on Fast Days
On Tish’ah B’Av and other communal fasts:
- readings emphasize rebuke, repentance, and mercy.
- additional passages vary by fast.
Public fasts instituted for crisis include readings meant to subdue the heart and motivate repentance.
Halachah 19 — Special Haftarot of Rebuke and Consolation
Specific Sabbaths before and after Tish’ah B’Av feature:
- three haftarot of rebuke,
- followed by seven haftarot of consolation culminating before Rosh Hashanah.
Halachah 20 — The Four Special Sabbaths
The four parashiyot before Pesach:
- Shekalim
- Zachor
- Parah
- HaChodesh
are read with special Torah scrolls and designated haftarot.
Halachah 21 — Interruptions Between the Four Sabbaths
There may be gaps between:
- Shekalim and Zachor,
- or Zachor and Parah,
but never between Parah and HaChodesh.
Halachah 22 — Multiple Scroll Etiquette
Each special reading is taken from a separate Torah scroll, to preserve honor and clarity.
Specific rules govern how aliyot are divided when special parashiyot coincide with the regular sidrah.
Halachah 23 — Three Scrolls on Certain Sabbaths
When Rosh Chodesh coincides with a special Sabbath, three Torah scrolls are taken out:
- the weekly sidrah,
- Rosh Chodesh reading,
- the special parashah.
Halachah 24 — Rosh Chodesh Tevet
When Rosh Chodesh Tevet falls:
- on Shabbat: three scrolls are used,
- on a weekday: Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh readings are combined with four aliyot.
Halachah 25 — Studying the Weekly Portion Privately
Every Jew is obligated weekly to study the Torah portion:
- twice in Hebrew, and
- once in translation (Shnayim Mikra Ve’echad Targum).
If no translation exists, the verse is read three times in Hebrew, ensuring one completes the Torah together with the community.
