parashah

Parashah, also spelled parashat ha-shavua, refers to a weekly portion of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) that is read in Jewish liturgy. The Torah scroll is divided into 54 sections, each named for the opening word or topic of the portion. Through the course of a year, these portions are read in sequence; in leap years, two portions may be combined into a single reading, but the cycle still aims to complete the entire text. The annual cycle typically begins in autumn with Bereshit and ends with V’Zot HaBerakhah near the conclusion of the Torah.

In the synagogue service, the portion is read aloud during the Torah reading, with congregants called to recite or read verses in assigned units known as aliyot. A designated reader, the Maftir, finishes the portion and then the Haftorah, a reading from the Prophets linked to the parashah, is proclaimed. The Haftorah may vary on special Sabbaths and holidays, but the basic structure—a weekly Torah portion followed by a haftarah—remains common across communities.

Etymology and usage: parashah derives from the Hebrew root parash, meaning to segment or section, and is commonly translated as “portion” or “section.” Plural forms include parashot or parashiyot. The parashah framework also informs study, sermons, and commentary throughout Jewish life, serving as a recurring text for interpretation and discussion.