Parashat

Parashat, singular parashah, refers to the weekly Torah portion read in Jewish liturgy. The term, often used as parashat ha-shavua, means “portion of the week” and designates a contiguous section of the five books of Moses that is read aloud in the synagogue on Shabbat (and on certain holidays). Each week’s reading forms part of a fixed yearly cycle.

The Torah is divided into 54 named parashot (parashot) that are read in sequence from Genesis through Deuteronomy. In a standard year, most weeks feature one parashah; in some years two portions are combined into a single reading, producing a “double parashah.” The cycle begins with Bereshit and ends with V’Zot HaBerachah. The names of the parashot typically derive from the first notable word or topic in the section.

Parashot generally present coherent blocks of narrative or law. Some portions recount ancestral stories or events in Israel’s early history (for example, Noach, Lech-Lecha), while others present legal material and commandments (such as Kedoshim, Acharei Mot). The parashah is often followed in the service by a haftarah, a reading from the Prophets, and, in many traditions, by a concluding portion of Torah reading called the maftir.

Practice and use vary by community, but the concept remains central to Jewish worship and study. The parashat framework provides a structured, year-long text for public reading and individual study, shaping weekly reflection, liturgy, and interpretation across generations.