haftaga

Haftaga, often rendered haftarah in English, refers to the Haftarah—the prophetic portion read publicly in Jewish liturgy after the weekly Torah reading on Shabbat, and on certain holidays and fast days. The term Haftaga is a transliteration variant found in some sources, but the practice is widely known as the Haftarah. The readings come from the books of the Prophets (Nevi'im) and are chosen to relate to the theme of the current Torah portion or to the calendar occasion.

In most services, the Torah portion is read first, followed by the Haftarah. A blessing known as Birkat Haftarah is commonly recited before the Haftarah in many communities, though the exact custom (before or after the reading) can vary by tradition. The Haftarah is chanted using distinct cantillation marks and is typically read by a designated member of the congregation or a trained reader.

There are special Haftarot for particular Sabbaths and days. For example, there are Haftarot assigned to Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, to Shabbat Shuva, and to other sanctified times; fast days also have their own prophetic readings. When a special Haftarah coincides with a holiday or a significant date, the reading may be modified or omitted according to local custom. Variations exist among communities—Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi practices differ in selection, order, and ceremonial details—but the underlying purpose remains to provide prophetic commentary that complements the Torah portion.

See also: Torah reading, Haftarah, Nevi'im, Jewish liturgy.