TL;DR

The Weekly Torah portion (Parashat HaShavua) is the weekly Torah reading held in every synagogue on Shabbat morning. The annual cycle covers 54 portions across the Five Books of the Torah. After the Torah reading, the Haftarah is read – a passage from the Prophets. GoMixApp digital signage automatically displays the portion name, the 7 aliyot, and the Haftarah.

The Weekly Torah portion is at the heart of synagogue Shabbat services – a Torah passage read on an annual cycle. In this article we review the 54 portions in the Torah, the reading order, the Haftarot, the special Shabbatot, and how to display all this information on digital signage in the synagogue.

The Annual Cycle of 54 Torah Portions

The Torah comprises five books: Bereshit (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bamidbar (Numbers), and Devarim (Deuteronomy). The annual reading cycle begins on Simchat Torah (the day after Shemini Atzeret, end of Sukkot) with the portion “Bereshit” – the first reading. The year progresses through all five books and concludes with “V’Zot HaBerachah” (end of Deuteronomy), read on the following Simchat Torah. Immediately afterward the cycle restarts from “Bereshit”.

Distribution of portions by book: Bereshit – 12 portions (Bereshit, Noach, Lech-Lecha, Vayera, Chayei Sarah, Toldot, Vayetze, Vayishlach, Vayeshev, Miketz, Vayigash, Vayechi), Shemot – 11 portions, Vayikra – 10 portions, Bamidbar – 10 portions, Devarim – 11 portions. Total: 54.

The Five Books of the Torah – Overview

  • Bereshit (Genesis) – Creation of the world, the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Joseph and his brothers. Deals with interpersonal relationships and ancestral ethics.
  • Shemot (Exodus) – The Exodus from Egypt, the Giving of the Torah, commandments, and the building of the Tabernacle. A transition from family narrative to national narrative.
  • Vayikra (Leviticus) – Sacrifices, priests, and kashrut. The book of law and holiness.
  • Bamidbar (Numbers) – The Israelites’ 40-year journey in the wilderness, the people’s grievances, and the sin of the spies. The book of choice and faith.
  • Devarim (Deuteronomy) – Moses’s speeches before his death, a review of the commandments, and the blessing of the tribes. The book of repentance and collective responsibility.
Infographic - annual cycle of 54 Torah portions
54 portions across the Five Books of the Torah

The 7 Aliyot to the Torah and the Haftarah

Every Shabbat, the portion is divided into 7 aliyot (reading sections), and each section is read by a different oleh (called-up reader). The order of the aliyot is:

  1. Kohen (first) – must be a Kohen (a descendant of Aaron the Priest). If no Kohen is present, an Israelite is called up.
  2. Levi (second) – must be a Levite (from the tribe of Levi).
  3. Yisrael (third-sixth) – 4 aliyot open to any Israelite in the synagogue.
  4. Maftir (seventh) – reads the final aliyah and the Haftarah.

The Haftarah is read immediately after the Torah reading. It is a passage from the books of the Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets). The Haftarah is thematically linked to the portion. Examples:

  • Parashat Beshalach (the splitting of the Red Sea) -> Haftarah of the Song of Deborah (Judges 5)
  • Parashat Chayei Sarah -> Haftarah of the death of Abraham (1 Kings 1)
  • Parashat Vayechi -> Haftarah of the death of David (1 Kings 2)

Special Shabbatot and Rosh Chodesh

Throughout the year there are special Shabbatot with a unique Haftarah or an addition to the prayer service:

  • Shabbat Shekalim, Zachor, Parah, HaChodesh – the four Shabbatot before Passover, each with a unique Haftarah.
  • Shabbat HaGadol – the Shabbat before Passover. Traditional custom of a rabbinic sermon on Passover laws in the afternoon.
  • Shabbat Shirah – the Shabbat when Parashat Beshalach (the Song of the Sea) is read. Custom of scattering wheat for the birds.
  • Shabbat Chazon – the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, which opens with the Haftarah “Chazon Yeshayahu” (Isaiah 1).
  • Shabbat Nachamu – the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av, opening with the Haftarah “Nachamu Nachamu Ami” (Isaiah 40).

Rosh Chodesh (the new month) that falls on Shabbat receives separate treatment: a unique Haftarah (“HaShamayim Kis’i”, Isaiah 66) and an addition to the prayer service.

LED screen next to the bimah in a synagogue displaying a Torah scroll icon
Weekly Torah portion – automatic display every Shabbat

How to Display the Weekly Torah Portion Automatically on a Synagogue Screen

The GoMixApp system for synagogues displays all the information about the Weekly Torah portion automatically every Shabbat – with no manual intervention:

  • Portion name (“Bereshit”, “Noach”, “Vayera”, etc.)
  • Breakdown of the 7 aliyot – chapter and verse for each aliyah
  • Weekly Haftarah – a passage from the Prophets
  • Previous portion – useful for Sunday-Tuesday display
  • Automatic detection of special Shabbatot (Shekalim / Zachor / Parah / HaChodesh / HaGadol / Shirah / Chazon / Nachamu)
  • Detection of Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

For more information on additional daily learning programs the system supports, see the Daf Yomi guide and the Daily Halacha guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Weekly Torah Portion

How many Torah portions are there in the Torah?

The Torah contains 54 portions (parashot) divided among the Five Books of the Torah: Bereshit (12 portions), Shemot (11), Vayikra (10), Bamidbar (10), and Devarim (11). The annual reading cycle begins on Simchat Torah (after Sukkot) and ends on the following Simchat Torah.

What is a Haftarah?

The Haftarah is a passage from the Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or the Twelve Minor Prophets) read after the Torah reading on Shabbat morning. The Haftarah is thematically linked to the Weekly Torah portion – for example, Parashat Beshalach (the splitting of the Red Sea) -> Haftarah of the Song of Deborah (Judges 5).

What are the 7 aliyot to the Torah?

Every Shabbat, the Weekly Torah portion is divided into 7 sections – “aliyot” – and each section is read by a different oleh. The order of the aliyot: Kohen (first), Levi (second), Yisrael (third-sixth), and Maftir (seventh). The seventh oleh also reads the Haftarah.

What are the special Shabbatot?

Special Shabbatot are Shabbatot with a unique Haftarah or an addition to the prayer service. The main ones: Shekalim, Zachor, Parah, HaChodesh (the 4 before Passover), HaGadol (before Passover), Shirah, Chazon (before Tisha B’Av), and Nachamu (after Tisha B’Av). Some also have a special reading in addition to the regular portion.

What is the difference between the Weekly Torah portion in Israel and the Diaspora?

During the summer a mismatch may arise: in the Diaspora the reading falls one portion behind Israel because of the second day of Yom Tov observed outside Israel, which displaces a portion reading. The gap is closed within a few weeks via a double portion (“Matot-Masei”) that the Diaspora reads together.

What is a double portion?

When the number of Shabbatot in a year is fewer than 54, two portions are combined into one reading. The common double portions: Vayakhel-Pekudei, Tazria-Metzora, Acharei-Kedoshim, Behar-Bechukotai, Chukat-Balak, Matot-Masei, Nitzavim-Vayelech. The entire double portion is read as a single unit on the same Shabbat.

Can the Weekly Torah portion be displayed automatically on a synagogue screen?

Yes. The GoMixApp system automatically displays the portion name, the breakdown of the 7 aliyot (including chapter and verse), the Haftarah, and the name of the previous portion. Special Shabbatot are detected automatically. Additionally, Rosh Chodesh and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh are handled separately with a unique Haftarah.

Summary

The Weekly Torah portion is the heart of synagogue life – the Shabbat morning Torah reading is the primary moment of connection between the community and the Torah. Automatic display of the Weekly Torah portion, the 7 aliyot, and the Haftarah on digital signage in the synagogue lets every congregant easily follow the reading and increases comprehension of the text.

More details on the digital signage system for synagogues ->