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

25

Torah: Devarim(Deuteronomy) 33:1-34:12

Haftara: Joshua 1:1-18

Brit Chadashah: Acts 1:1-14

 

Portion Summary

The fifty-fourth and last reading from the Torah begins with the words Vezot ha'Berachah (וזאת הברכה), which means "And this is the blessing." These are the first words of Deuteronomy 33:1. This Torah portion is ordinarily read on the day of Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah) in conjunction with the beginning of the book of Genesis to mark the conclusion of one year's Torah cycle and the beginning of the next. The portion contains Moses' final blessings over the twelve tribes, the story of his ascent up Mount Nebo to overlook the land of Canaan and the story of his death and burial.

 

Portion Outline

  • Torah
    • Deuteronomy 33:1 | Moses' Final Blessing on Israel
    • Deuteronomy 34:1 | Moses Dies and Is Buried in the Land of Moab
  • Prophets
    • Joshua 1:1 | God's Commission to Joshua
    • Joshua 1:10 | Preparations for the Invasion
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