Parashat Hashavua — Weekly Torah Portion & Reading
פרשת השבוע
The complete cycle of 54 weekly Torah portions read every Shabbat in synagogues worldwide
About the Weekly Torah Reading
Every Shabbat morning, a portion of the Torah (Parashat Hashavua) is read aloud from the Torah scroll in synagogues around the world. The Torah — the Five Books of Moses (Chamisha Chumshei Torah) — is divided into 54 weekly portions (parshiot). The entire Torah is completed and restarted each year on Simchat Torah. This unbroken tradition connects every Jewish community to the same sacred text on the same Shabbat.
The Torah reading is accompanied by the Haftorah — a related passage from the Prophets (Nevi'im) — and is the centerpiece of the Shabbat morning service.
Customs, Traditions & Prayers
Aliyah LeTorah (עליה לתורה)
Being called up to the Torah is a great honor. The oleh recites the blessings (Birchot HaTorah) before and after the reading. Seven aliyot are given on Shabbat morning, plus Maftir.
Haftorah Reading
After the Torah reading, a selection from the Prophets (Haftorah) is chanted. The Haftorah thematically connects to the weekly parashah.
Hagbahah & Gelilah
After the reading, the Torah is lifted (Hagbahah) to display the text to the congregation, then rolled and dressed (Gelilah) — both considered great honors.
Torah Reading Cantillation (Trop)
The Torah is chanted using traditional cantillation marks (ta'amei hamikra / trop). These ancient musical notations guide pronunciation, meaning, and melody.
The Five Books of Moses — All 54 Parshiot
Bereishit (Genesis)
בְּרֵאשִׁית
| # | Transliteration | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bereishit | בְּרֵאשִׁית | In the Beginning |
| 2 | Noach | נֹחַ | Noah |
| 3 | Lech Lecha | לֶךְ־לְךָ | Go Forth |
| 4 | Vayeira | וַיֵּרָא | And He Appeared |
| 5 | Chayei Sarah | חַיֵּי שָׂרָה | Life of Sarah |
| 6 | Toldot | תּוֹלְדֹת | Generations |
| 7 | Vayetzei | וַיֵּצֵא | And He Went Out |
| 8 | Vayishlach | וַיִּשְׁלַח | And He Sent |
| 9 | Vayeshev | וַיֵּשֶׁב | And He Settled |
| 10 | Miketz | מִקֵּץ | At the End |
| 11 | Vayigash | וַיִּגַּשׁ | And He Approached |
| 12 | Vayechi | וַיְחִי | And He Lived |
Shemot (Exodus)
שְׁמוֹת
| # | Transliteration | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shemot | שְׁמוֹת | Names |
| 2 | Va'eira | וָאֵרָא | And I Appeared |
| 3 | Bo | בֹּא | Come (to Pharaoh) |
| 4 | Beshalach | בְּשַׁלַּח | When He Sent |
| 5 | Yitro | יִתְרוֹ | Yitro (Jethro) |
| 6 | Mishpatim | מִּשְׁפָּטִים | Laws |
| 7 | Terumah | תְּרוּמָה | Offering |
| 8 | Tetzaveh | תְּצַוֶּה | You Shall Command |
| 9 | Ki Tisa | כִּי תִשָּׂא | When You Take |
| 10 | Vayakhel | וַיַּקְהֵל | And He Assembled |
| 11 | Pekudei | פְקוּדֵי | Accounts |
Vayikra (Leviticus)
וַיִּקְרָא
| # | Transliteration | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vayikra | וַיִּקְרָא | And He Called |
| 2 | Tzav | צַו | Command |
| 3 | Shemini | שְּׁמִינִי | Eighth |
| 4 | Tazria | תַזְרִיעַ | She Conceives |
| 5 | Metzora | מְּצֹרָע | Diseased One |
| 6 | Acharei Mot | אַחֲרֵי מוֹת | After the Death |
| 7 | Kedoshim | קְדֹשִׁים | Holy |
| 8 | Emor | אֱמֹר | Say |
| 9 | Behar | בְּהַר | On the Mount |
| 10 | Bechukotai | בְּחֻקֹּתַי | In My Statutes |
Bamidbar (Numbers)
בְּמִדְבַּר
| # | Transliteration | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bamidbar | בְּמִדְבַּר | In the Desert |
| 2 | Naso | נָשֹׂא | Elevate |
| 3 | Beha'alotcha | בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ | When You Set Up |
| 4 | Shelach | שְׁלַח | Send |
| 5 | Korach | קֹרַח | Korach |
| 6 | Chukat | חֻקַּת | Statute |
| 7 | Balak | בָּלָק | Balak |
| 8 | Pinchas | פִּינְחָס | Pinchas |
| 9 | Matot | מַּטּוֹת | Tribes |
| 10 | Masei | מַסְעֵי | Journeys |
Devarim (Deuteronomy)
דְּבָרִים
| # | Transliteration | Hebrew | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devarim | דְּבָרִים | Words |
| 2 | Va'etchanan | וָאֶתְחַנַּן | And I Pleaded |
| 3 | Eikev | עֵקֶב | Consequence |
| 4 | Re'eh | רְאֵה | See |
| 5 | Shoftim | שֹׁפְטִים | Judges |
| 6 | Ki Teitzei | כִּי־תֵצֵא | When You Go Out |
| 7 | Ki Tavo | כִּי־תָבוֹא | When You Come |
| 8 | Nitzavim | נִצָּבִים | You Stand |
| 9 | Vayelech | וַיֵּלֶךְ | And He Went |
| 10 | Ha'azinu | הַאֲזִינוּ | Listen |
| 11 | V'Zot HaBracha | וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה | This Is the Blessing |
Resources for Torah Reading