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What is a parashah?
 For
those who may not know, the Parashot (or "Sidras")
are the weekly readings of the Torah which are read
and studied each week in synagogues and Torah-based
congregations around the world. There are two systems
which have been in used for at least two millenium,
one of which has been espoused to have been instituted
during the time of Ezra. They are the annual cycle and
the triennial cycle. They are dubiously named. The annual
Torah cycle takes the reader through the Torah (B'reisheet/Genesis
through Devarim/Deuteronomy) within a one year period.
The triennial Torah cycle accomplishes this within a
three year period. Our congregation uses the annual
cycle, as do most. However, the triennial cycle is more
ancient, and can be traced to be at least as ancient
as the New Testament period, and was in use during the
time of Yeshua.
The weekly reading is called a parashah (selection
/ portion). Parashah is the singluar. Parashot is the
plural. They are usually a few chapters in length
(but
not being limited to manmade chapter breaks), the common
factor being they revolve around a central idea or
theme.
The parashot take their name from a word which is unique
to the parashah, from the first sentence or two in
the
Hebrew text. An example of this can be seen from my
first posting: Kedoshim.
This comes from the beginning of the parashah in which
Hashem commands us, "You shall be holy (kedoshim),
for holy am I, Hashem, your God."
If you do not know how the parashot work, or how they
are broken up and arranged, or would like to know which
parashah to begin reading, etc. you can go to www.hebcal.com
to find out what the current reading is for either the
annual or triennial cycle. They list the reading from
the Torah and the Haftarah. If you are a believer in
Yeshua, you will want to supplement this with selected
readings from the Brit Hadashah through either David
Stern's Haftarah-like reading schedule, or FFOZ's
Torah-like reading schedule. We have adopted the FFOZ
reading schedule, which takes us through the Gospels
and Acts within the annual Torah cycle.
I will eventually have a complete set of commentaries
on the parashot. I'm currently working through a few
select, previous commentaries to finalize them for posting.
I will also attempt to continue with the weekly parashah
and post commentary on them as soon as possible. Please
select the parashah from the list below. (Yes, I know
it's slim pickins. Be patient.)
For Aliyot Readings
Click Here
B'reisheet / Genesis
- B'reisheet
- Noach
- Lech
Lecha
- Vayera
- Hayyei-Sarah
- Tol'dot
- Vayetze
- Vayishlach
- Vayeshev
- Mikketz
- Vayigash
- Vayechi
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Shemot / Exodus
- Shemot
- Va'era
- Bo
- B'shallach
- Yitro
- Mishpatim
- T'rumah
- Tetzaveh
- Ki Tissa
- Vayak'hel
- P'kudei
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Vayikra / Leviticus
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B'midbar / Numbers
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Devarim / Deuteronomy
- Devarim
- Va'etchanan
- Ekev
- Re'eh
- Shof'tim
- Ki Tetze
- Ki Tavo
- Nitzavim
- Vayelekh
- Ha'azinu
- V'zot HaBrachah
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