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

10

Brit Chadashah

Torah: Shemot(Exodus) 6:2-9:35

haftara: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

Brit Chadashah: Luke 11:14-22

 

Portion Summary

The second reading from the book of Exodus and fourteenth reading from the Torah is named Va'era (וארא), which means "And I appeared." The title comes from the first words of the second verse of the reading, which says, "And I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty" (Exodus 6:3). The portion begins with four expressions of redemption whereby God promises to bring Israel out of the Egyptian bondage. The narrative progresses to tell the story of the first seven of the ten plagues that God unleashed on Egypt.

 

Portion Outline

  • Torah
    • Exodus 6:14 | The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron
    • Exodus 6:28 | Moses and Aaron Obey God's Commands
    • Exodus 7:8 | Aaron's Miraculous Rod
    • Exodus 7:14 The First Plague: | Water Turned to Blood
    • Exodus 8:1 The Second Plague: | Frogs
    • Exodus 8:16 The Third Plague: | Gnats
    • Exodus 8:20 The Fourth Plague: | Flies
    • Exodus 9:1 The Fifth Plague: | Livestock Diseased
    • Exodus 9:8 The Sixth Plague: | Boils
    • Exodus 9:13 The Seventh Plague: | Thunder and Hail
  • Prophets
    • Eze 28:25 | Future Blessing for Israel
    • Eze 29:1 | Proclamation against Egypt
    • Eze 29:17 | Babylonia Will Plunder Egypt
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