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What determines the section of the Torah read every Shabbat and on holidays?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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Moses instituted that a portion of the Torah be read publicly on every Shabbat. For this purpose the Torah was divided into 54 portions and every Shabbat one (sometimes two) portions are read. We conclude the Torah every year on the holiday of Simchat Torah and the next Shabbat we start again.

For the most part, holiday readings focus on Torah sections that refer to that holiday, its observances, and its offerings.

You may also want to read more about "Anything different about the High Holiday Torah readings?" .


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RELATED CATEGORIES

Shabbat » Reading of the Torah » Torah Reading
Holidays » General Information » Holiday Information
Shabbat
(pl: Shabbatot). Hebrew word meaning "rest." It is a Biblical commandment to sanctify and rest on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. This commemorates the fact that after creating the world in six days, G-d rested on the seventh.
Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Simchat Torah
An extremely joyous one-day autumn festival following the holiday of Sukkot. In Israel it is the eighth day of Sukkot, outside of Israel it is celebrated the next day, the day after Shmini Atzeret. Every Sabbath we read a portion of the Torah. On this holiday we celebrate the completion of the yearly cycle.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.