Annual (Deut. 29:9-31:30): Etz Hayim p. 1165; Hertz p. 878
Triennial (Deut. 31:7-31:30): Etz Hayim p. 1174; Hertz p. 888
Haftarah (Isaiah 61:10-63:9): Etz Hayim p. 1180; Hertz p. 883
Rabbi Joyce Newmark
Teaneck, New Jersey
Torah Portion Summary
According to tradition, this is the last day of Moses’ life. He speaks to the people, reminding them that they are entering into a covenant with God and that those who violate that covenant will be punished severely.
Moses also tells the people that even as God will punish their disobedience He will not abandon them. When they learn from what has happened to them and return to God in repentance, God will welcome them lovingly and bring them back from their exile.
Moses encourages the people, telling them that God’s commandments are not too difficult or beyond their reach. Rather, they are very close, so that every Jew has the ability to observe them.
Moses concludes: “I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life – if you and your offspring would live.”
Moses then tells the people that now it is time for Joshua to succeed him. They should not be afraid, because God will continue to be with them as they conquer the Canaanites, just as He was with them when they conquered the Amorites. Moses then charges Joshua in the sight of all Israel.
Moses writes down the Torah (or perhaps parts of Deuteronomy) and gives it to the priests and the elders. He tells them that at Sukkot every seventh year they are to assemble the people and read the Torah to them.
God now calls to Moses and tells him that it is almost time for him to die. God instructs Moses to bring Joshua to the tent of meeting to hear God’s instructions. God tells Moses that in the future the people will break the covenant and turn to alien gods, so that God will become angry and “hide His countenance” from them. Therefore, Moses is to write down a poem (which is found in Ha-azinu) and teach it to the people. It will remind them of God’s promise and their disloyalty and prompt them to repent.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AN ALIYAH
Doing an Aliyah is not difficult. Although these instructions may appear complicated, it is quite simple. The gabbais will help you if you have questions. If unaccustomed to having an Aliyah, you may wish to practice before being called for an Aliyah during a service.
BEFORE THE READING
Go to the right side of the baal koreh (Torah reader).
The baal koreh will show you the first word of the section about to be read.
Touch the margin next to the first word with a fringe of your tallit, kiss the fringe.
Grasp the spindles of the Torah and roll the scroll shut.
Continue holding the scroll and say the following blessing:
Bar-e-chu et Ah-doe-nai ha-me-voe-rach
pause as the congregation recites, Ba-ruch Ah-doe-nai ha'me-voe-rach le-o-lam va'ed, then continue on.
Then move to the right of the baal koreh so the Torah can be read.
AFTER THE READING
The baal koreh (Torah reader) will point to the last word of the section.
Touch the last word with the corner of your tallit and repeat it.
Grasp the spindles of the Torah and roll the scroll shut.
Stand behind the Torah scroll and say the following blessing:
Ba-ruch at-ah A-doe-nai eh-lo-hay-nu me-lech ha'o-lam asher natan lanu torat emet ve'chayai olam nata bitochaynu Ba-ruch ah-tah Ah-doe-nai No-tayn ha-Torah
Go to the left side of the reader during the next aliyah.
After this aliyah, return to your seat. Do not move until after the blessing after reading the Torah is recited.
- People may say to you yasher koach "May you be strengthened." - You may respond baruch ti-he-yeh, "May you be blessed."
WEEKLY READING OF THE TORAH
Instituting Reading of the Parsha When the Jews returned from Babylonian Exile, the Jewish leader Ezra instituted weekly readings from the Torah in Synagogues (Talmud, Bava Kama 82a) The Chumash is divided into 54 parshiot (portions), which is the maximum number of non Holyday portions that can be read in a leap year. In a non-leap year, 50 portions can be read. On non-leap years, 8 portions are joined together to form 4 double portions. Special readings are done on Holydays including those that fall on Shabbat. Name of the Parsha The name of each parsha is a word or two taken from the opening sentence of the parsha. The name of the five books of the chumash, (the Five Books of Moses), are the name of the first parsha.
Greek
Hebrew
Genesis
B'raysheet
Exodus
Shemot
Leviticus
Vayikra
Numbers
Bamidbar
Deuteronomy
Devarim
The Torah Reading
On Shabbat afternoon, a short section from the parsha of following weeks is read, it is repeated on Monday and Thursday mornings. The longest reading is on Shabbat following the Shacharit (morning) service. This reading is divided into 7 sections, each section is preceded and followed by a blessing. Originally seven people were called up to the bima to chant each section and recite the blessings. This honor is referred to as an aliyah, which means, "going up". During the period of exile, when Hebrew ceased being the spoken language, a specialist took over the chanting of the Torah, while the person who is honored with the aliyah chants the blessing before and after the reading.
Aliyah Honorees
The Rabbis determined that the person to have the first aliyah must be a descendant of the priestly family, a kohen. The person receiving the second aliyah must be from the tribe of Levi, those who are chosen to do the work of maintaining the Temple. The third through seventh aliyot are Yisrael, the remainder of the Jewish people. After the seventh aliyah, a special short section called the maftir is read from the Torah. Usually the maftir is the last few lines of the portion, but on Holydays and certain times during the year, it is read from another book of the Torah.
