Tag
Torah Reading
4 articles
The Four Parshiyot: Special Shabbatot Before Passover
In the weeks before Passover, four special Torah readings transform ordinary Shabbatot into stepping stones of preparation — from Temple tax to Amalek's remembrance, from purification to the counting of a new month.
The Haftarah: Prophetic Voices After the Torah
Every Shabbat, after the Torah reading, a passage from the Prophets is chanted aloud in synagogue. The haftarah connects prophecy to law, history to the present, and — for many young Jews — marks the most memorable moment of becoming bar or bat mitzvah.
Ezra the Scribe: The Man Who Restored the Torah
Ezra the Scribe led the return from Babylonian exile and reestablished Torah study and practice, shaping Judaism into the text-centered religion it remains today.
Akdamut: The Aramaic Poem That Opens Shavuot
Akdamut is a 90-line Aramaic poem recited on Shavuot before the Torah reading, praising God's greatness and Israel's faithfulness. Explore its medieval origins, its unique double-acrostic structure, and why this obscure poem remains beloved.