Annual Torah Cycle

In the observance of the annual cycle of Torah Reading, each week is assigned its own portion of Scripture, or what we refer to as a Parashah.  This year, 5780,  began on 1 Tishrei or October 1, 2019. There are 54 Parshiyot (Parashah plural), one for each week of a leap year, so that in the course of one year, we complete the entire Torah from B'resheet to D'varim (Genesis to Deuteronomy). A leap-year adds an additional 4 weeks (one month) to the usual 12 months, and we refer to this month as: ADAR II. During non-leap years (regular), there are 50 weeks, as a result some of the shorter Parshiyot are doubled up.

The weeks of Pesach (Passover) and Sukkot have different Torah portions assigned to them, so on leap years that leaves 52 weeks to accomplish 54 Parshiyot. This is achieved by doubling up 2 portions, and for non-leap years there remain 48 weeks to accomplish 54 Parshiyot and this is achieved by having 6 double Parshiyot.

This Week's Parashah

15

Torah: Devarim(Deuteronomy) 21:10-25:19

Haftara: Isaiah 54:1-10

Brit Chadashah: Matthew 24:29-42

 

Portion Summary

Rabbi Meir said, There is a parable about this matter. To what can it be compared? It can be compared to two identical twin brothers. Both lived in a certain city. One was appointed king, and the other became a bandit. At the king's command they hanged the bandit. But everyone who saw him hanging there said, The king has been hung! Therefore the king issued a command and he was taken down. (b.Sanhedrin 46b)

 

Portion Outline

  • Torah
    • Deuteronomy 21:10 | Female Captives
    • Deuteronomy 21:15 | The Right of the Firstborn
    • Deuteronomy 21:18 | Rebellious Children
    • Deuteronomy 21:22 | Miscellaneous Laws
    • Deuteronomy 22:13 | Laws concerning Sexual Relations
    • Deuteronomy 23:1 | Those Excluded from the Assembly
    • Deuteronomy 23:9 | Sanitary, Ritual, and Humanitarian Precepts
    • Deuteronomy 24:1 | Laws concerning Marriage and Divorce
    • Deuteronomy 24:5 | Miscellaneous Laws
    • Deuteronomy 25:5 | Levirate Marriage
    • Deuteronomy 25:11 | Various Commands
  • Prophets
    • Isaiah 54:1 | The Eternal Covenant of Peace
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