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

09

Torah: B'reisheet 41:1-44:17

Haftara: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Brit Chadashah: Luke 24:13-29

 

Portion Summary

The tenth reading from the book of Genesis is named Miketz (מקץ), which means "the end." The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, "Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream" (Genesis 41:1). The portion begins with Pharaoh's portentous dreams, Joseph's interpretations and his subsequent rise to power over Egypt. When a famine strikes the land of Canaan, his brothers come to Egypt seeking grain, but they do not recognize Joseph, who engineers a means by which he can test their character.

 

Portion Outline

  • Torah
    • Genesis 41:1 | Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream
    • Genesis 41:37 | Joseph's Rise to Power
    • Genesis 42:1 | Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt
    • Genesis 42:26 | Joseph's Brothers Return to Canaan
    • Genesis 43:1 | The Brothers Come Again, Bringing Benjamin
    • Genesis 44:1 | Joseph Detains Benjamin
  • Prophets
    • Zec 2:14 | Interlude: An Appeal to the Exiles
    • Zec 3:1 | Fourth Vision: Joshuahua and Satan
    • Zec 4:1 | Fifth Vision: The Lampstand and Olive Trees
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