Parashat Hashavua
פָּרָשַׁת הַשָּׁבוּעַ
Also known as parsha, parasha, parashah, parashat, parshat hashavua, parshah, sedra, sidra, or the weekly Torah portion / portion of the week. The complete cycle of 54 parshiyot read every Shabbat in synagogues worldwide — read on the same Shabbat in nearly every year, but occasionally different between Israel and the Diaspora.
Every Shabbat morning a portion of the Torah (Parashat Hashavua / פרשת השבוע) is chanted from the Torah scroll. The Torah — the Five Books of Moses (Chamisha Chumshei Torah) — is divided into 54 weekly parshiyot. The entire Torah is completed and restarted each year on Simchat Torah.
In most years Israel and the Diaspora read the same parsha. They diverge for several weeks whenever the eighth day of Pesach or the second day of Shavuot falls on Shabbat — Israel reads the next parsha while the Diaspora reads the yom-tov Torah reading — until a doubled parsha (e.g. Matot-Masei) resyncs the schedule.
Customs, Prayers & Terms
Being called up to the Torah — seven aliyot on Shabbat plus Maftir.
A thematically-linked reading from the Prophets after the parsha.
Lifting and dressing the Torah — great honors given to the community.
Cantillation marks that guide chanting, pronunciation and meaning.
The Five Books of Moses — All 54 Parshiyot
Bereshit (Genesis)
בְּרֵאשִׁית- 1Bereshitבְּרֵאשִׁית
- 2Noachנֹחַ
- 3Lech-Lechaלֶךְ־לְךָ
- 4Vayeraוַיֵּרָא
- 5Chayei Saraחַיֵּי שָׂרָה
- 6Toldotתּוֹלְדוֹת
- 7Vayetzeiוַיֵּצֵא
- 8Vayishlachוַיִּשְׁלַח
- 9Vayeshevוַיֵּשֶׁב
- 10Miketzמִקֵּץ
- 11Vayigashוַיִּגַּשׁ
- 12Vayechiוַיְחִי
Shemot (Exodus)
שְׁמוֹת- 13Shemotשְׁמוֹת
- 14Vaeraוָאֵרָא
- 15Boבֹּא
- 16Beshalachבְּשַׁלַּח
- 17Yitroיִתְרוֹ
- 18Mishpatimמִשְׁפָּטִים
- 19Terumahתְּרוּמָה
- 20Tetzavehתְּצַוֶּה
- 21Ki Tisaכִּי תִשָּׂא
- 22Vayakhelוַיַּקְהֵל
- 23Pekudeiפְקוּדֵי
Vayikra (Leviticus)
וַיִּקְרָא- 24Vayikraוַיִּקְרָא
- 25Tzavצַו
- 26Shminiשְׁמִינִי
- 27Tazriaתַזְרִיעַ
- 28Metzoraמְצֹרָע
- 29Achrei Motאַחֲרֵי מוֹת
- 30Kedoshimקְדֹשִׁים
- 31Emorאֱמֹר
- 32Beharבְּהַר
- 33Bechukotaiבְּחֻקֹּתַי
Bamidbar (Numbers)
בְּמִדְבַּר- 34Bamidbarבְּמִדְבַּר
- 35Nassoנָשֹׂא
- 36Beha'alotchaבְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
- 37Sh'lachשְׁלַח
- 38Korachקֹרַח
- 39Chukatחֻקַּת
- 40Balakבָּלָק
- 41Pinchasפִּינְחָס
- 42Matotמַּטּוֹת
- 43Maseiמַסְעֵי
Devarim (Deuteronomy)
דְּבָרִים- 44Devarimדְּבָרִים
- 45Vaetchananוָאֶתְחַנַּן
- 46Eikevעֵקֶב
- 47Re'ehרְאֵה
- 48Shoftimשֹׁפְטִים
- 49Ki Teitzeiכִּי־תֵצֵא
- 50Ki Tavoכִּי־תָבוֹא
- 51Nitzavimנִצָּבִים
- 52Vayeilechוַיֵּלֶךְ
- 53Ha'azinuהַאֲזִינוּ
- 54Vezot Haberakhahוְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה
Find an Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Chabad, Sephardic or Reconstructionist synagogue near you to hear the weekly Torah reading.
Browse the Synagogues & Shuls Directory →Online Resources for the Weekly Parsha
Weekly Parsha — Frequently Asked Questions
What is this week's parsha?
This week's Torah portion is shown live at the top of this page, with separate readings for Israel and the Diaspora when the two schedules differ.
What does Parashat Hashavua mean?
Parashat Hashavua (פרשת השבוע) means 'portion of the week' — the section of the Torah read publicly in synagogue each Shabbat morning.
How many parshiyot are there?
There are 54 weekly Torah portions. Some are combined in certain years so the full Torah is completed annually on Simchat Torah.
Why is the parsha sometimes different in Israel and the Diaspora?
When a festival's extra Diaspora day (such as the 8th day of Pesach) falls on Shabbat, Israel moves ahead to the next parsha while the Diaspora reads the holiday portion. The schedules realign within a few weeks by combining portions.
When is the weekly Torah portion read?
The full parsha is read on Shabbat morning, with the opening section also read on Shabbat afternoon (Mincha) and Monday and Thursday mornings.
What is the haftarah?
The haftarah (הפטרה) is a reading from the Prophets that follows the Torah reading on Shabbat and holidays, usually connected thematically to the parsha.
See also the Jewish Calendar 5787 and Jewish Holidays and Fast Days.