How many parshas are there
Robert Spencer
Published Apr 02, 2026
There are 54 parshas, or parashiyot in Hebrew, and the full cycle is read over the course of one Jewish year.
What is the Hebrew Parashah?
Definition of parashah : a passage in Jewish Scripture dealing with a single topic specifically : a section of the Torah assigned for weekly reading in synagogue worship.
What is the longest parsha in the Torah?
The parashah constitutes Exodus 30:11–34:35. The parashah is the longest of the weekly Torah portions in the book of Exodus (although not the longest in the Torah, which is Naso), and is made up of 7,424 Hebrew letters, 2,002 Hebrew words, 139 verses, and 245 lines in a Torah scroll (Sefer Torah).
Which haftarah is the longest?
The song of the sea is sometimes known as the Shirah (song) in some western Jewish synagogues. The haftarah for Beshalach tells the story of Deborah. At 52 verses, it is the longest haftarah.What does the word haftarah mean?
The haftarah or (in Ashkenazic pronunciation) haftorah (alt. haphtara, Hebrew: הפטרה) “parting,” “taking leave“, (plural form: haftarot or haftoros) is a series of selections from the books of Nevi’im (“Prophets”) of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) that is publicly read in synagogue as part of Jewish religious practice.
What book is Vayishlach in?
Vayishlach or Vayishlah (וַיִּשְׁלַח — Hebrew for ‘and he sent’, the first word of the parashah) is the eighth weekly Torah portion ( פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
What are the 3 parts of the Torah?
- Torah (Law) – five books. Jews regard this as the holiest part of the Tenakh (the Jewish Bible). …
- Nevi’im (Prophets) – eight books. These books describe the history of Judaism after the death of Moses. …
- Ketuvim (Writings) – 11 books.
How many times a week is the Torah read?
The Torah scrolls are taken out from the Ark (Aron ha kodesh) and portions read in the synagogue three times each week. On Mondays and Thursdays small sections are read. The main reading is on the morning of Shabbat (Sabbath). Over the course of the year the whole scroll is read in sequence.What does mishpatim mean in Hebrew?
Mishpatim (Hebrew: מִּשְׁפָּטִים — Hebrew for “laws,” the second word of the parashah) is the eighteenth weekly Torah portion (Hebrew: פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the Book of Exodus. … The parashah constitutes Exodus 21:1–24:18.
What does Naso mean in Hebrew?Naso or Nasso (נָשֹׂא — Hebrew for “take a census” or “lift up,” the sixth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah) is the 35th weekly Torah portion ( פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the Book of Numbers.
Article first time published onHow long is a Torah portion?
There are 54 weekly portions or parashot. Torah reading mostly follows an annual cycle beginning and ending on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, with the divisions corresponding to the lunisolar Hebrew calendar, which contains up to 55 weeks, the exact number varying between leap years and regular years.
What is the difference between Tanakh and Torah?
Definition. Torah refers to the initial 5 books of Moses which were given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai and the Terbanacle. On the other hand, Tanakh refers to the whole 24 books which include a collection of religious writings in ancient times by the Israelites.
When was Haftarah written?
The Haftarah originated in the pre-70 C.E. period. Scholars now understand that, in this early period, synagogues were places of studying and of Torah reading, but not usually places of formal prayer.
Are the first 5 books of the Bible the same as the Torah?
The Torah (/ˈtɔːrə, ˈtoʊrə/; Hebrew: תּוֹרָה, “Instruction”, “Teaching” or “Law”) includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, named: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. When used in that sense, Torah means the same as Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses.
Are Psalms in the Torah?
Torah literally means “teaching.” Torah also means the five Jewish books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. So in the usual sense, no, Psalms are not part of Torah. In a broader sense Torah can mean the whole body of our religious teachings, oral and written.
Is Torah and Old Testament the same?
The meaning of “Torah” is often restricted to signify the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), also called the Law (or the Pentateuch, in Christianity). … The term Torah is also used to designate the entire Hebrew Bible.
What happens in Vayeshev?
The parashah tells the stories of how Jacob’s other sons sold Joseph into captivity in Egypt, how Judah wronged his daughter-in-law Tamar who then tricked him into fulfilling his oath, and how Joseph served Potiphar and was imprisoned when falsely accused of assaulting Potiphar’s wife.
What does Terumah mean in Hebrew?
Terumah is a Hebrew word, originally meaning lifted apart, but meaning donation in modern Hebrew. It can refer to: Terumah (offering), a type of sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible.
How do you pronounce mishpatim?
- Phonetic spelling of Mishpatim. mish-pa-tim.
- Meanings for Mishpatim. It is the eighteenth weekly Jewish religious text portion that also occurs in the sixth portion in the Book of Exodus.
- Examples of in a sentence. A deeper understanding of Parashat Mishpatim. …
- Translations of Mishpatim. Russian : Мишпатим
Where is the Torah kept?
Today, each Jewish synagogue often has a finely crafted, hand written Torah scroll kept in the ark. The ark is a cabinet located at the head of a synagogue’s chapel, usually facing Jerusalem. Elaborately embroidered curtains often cover the ark.
Is the Torah read from right to left?
Hebrew is read from right to left, just the opposite of English and many modern languages which are read from left to right. … In modern times scholars and students of Biblical Hebrew use the Masoretic Text (MT).
What is the shortest Torah portion?
The parashah is the shortest of the weekly Torah portions in the Book of Exodus (although not the shortest in the Torah), and is made up of 4,022 Hebrew letters, 1,105 Hebrew words, and 75 verses.
What does Naso mean in medical terms?
Naso-: Prefix referring to the nose, as in nasogastric tube (a tube that is passed through the nose and to the stomach).
What is recited at a bar mitzvah?
The Bar/Bat Mitzvah (the child) is called up, usually to read the final lines of the Torah portion, called the maftir, followed by the Haftarah reading. … The Bar/Bat Mitzvah follows the maftir with a d’var Torah, a short talk in which the child tells about how the readings to his or her life.
What books make up the nevi IM?
The Former Prophets (Hebrew: נביאים ראשונים Nevi’im Rishonim) consists of the narrative books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings; while the Latter Prophets (Hebrew: נביאים אחרונים Nevi’im Akharonim) include the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets.
Who unified the Israelites into a single nation?
King Saul united the Hebrew tribes into a single nation about 3000 years ago.