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

16

Portion Summary

The second reading in the book of Genesis is named after Noah. In Hebrew, the name Noah is spelled Noach (נח). The word Noach is related to the Hebrew word for "rest." Genesis 5:29 says that his parents named him Noah (Noach נח) because they hoped their son would give them rest (nacham, נחם) from their toil. The contents of section Noah tell the story of Noah's flood, the tower of Babel and the beginning of the Abrahamic line.


Portion Outline

  • Torah
    • Genesis 6:1| The Wickedness of Humankind
    • Genesis 6:9| Noah Pleases God
    • Genesis 7:1| The Great Flood
    • Genesis 8:1| The Flood Subsides
    • Genesis 8:20| God's Promise to Noah
    • Genesis 9:1| The Covenant with Noah
    • Genesis 9:18| Noah and His Sons
    • Genesis 10:1| Nations Descended from Noah
    • Genesis 11:1| The Tower of Babel
    • Genesis 11:10| Descendants of Shem
    • Genesis 11:27| Descendants of Terah
  • Prophets
    • Isaiah 54:1| The Eternal Covenant of Peace
    • Isaiah 55:1| An Invitation to Abundant Life
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