It is both fun and beneficial to read through the Torah (as well as the rest of the Bible!) on a regular basis. You can follow any scheme of regular readings you want. But, as the saying goes, "Why reinvent the wheel?" The Jewish people have had a regular weekly Torah reading plan for centuries. It would be difficult to improve on it. Besides, why would we want to?

   We do not know when the traditional plan of readings began. Josephus, writing in the latter half of the first century, tells us that the Jewish people have had a regular Torah reading cycle since ancient times (Apion 2:175). However, we do know that from the time of the late Second Temple period a rather fixed schedule was in place in the synagogues. The Talmud provides us with the evidence for this, as does the Brit Hadasha (cf. Acts 15:21).

   The earliest reference to a fixed cycle of consecutive readings of the Torah is in B.T. Megillah 29b. Here we see that in Israel there was a three-year reading cycle. In Babylon and elsewhere in the diaspora, there was a one-year reading cycle consisting of 54 different portions. The three-year cycle continued to be used in certain places, at least up until the 1200âs, as the Rambam attests. However, since at least Talmudic times (200-500 CE), the usual custom has been to read the Torah in a year.

   Following a one-year cycle of consecutive readings, the ancient practice of dividing the Torah into 54 portions is still followed. A portion is called a parasha or a sidra. (The plural would be parashiot and sedarim, respectively.) There are occasions when two portions are combined on one Shabbat in order to fit all 54 parashot into one year.

   Each portion is given a Hebrew name derived from the first significant word in that parasha. In the case of the first portion of each book, the name given is the same as the Hebrew title of the book. For example, the first portion in Genesis is called "Bereshit." (Bereshit is also the Hebrew title for the Book of Genesis.)

   We have included a list of the weekly portions following a one-year Torah reading cycle. The actual reading dates are not listed, however, as these vary from year to year according to the Hebrew calendar. The reading dates in Israel also differ from those in the diaspora; this is because certain Holy Days which Israel celebrates for one day are extended elsewhere to two. Calendars that includes each weekâs Torah portion along with its corresponding diaspora date can be found in most Jewish bookstores.

   Each Shabbat, a different Torah portion is read (in consecutive order) and followed by a corresponding reading from one of the prophetic books. Again, the origin of the particular portions from the Prophets, as well as the custom of reading from them, is very obscure. However, we know from Luke 4:17 that it was the common practice to do so, at least in the late Second Temple period.

   The reading from the Prophets is called the Haftarah reading. Haftarah means "completion." The idea is that the reading of the Prophets completes the Torah reading. We have provided you with the weekly Haftarah readings which go along with the Torah readings. You may note that some of these readings come from historical books such as Kings or Samuel. This is because, in the Jewish division of the Tenakh (the Older Testament), these historical books are considered part of the prophetic books.

   As you read through the Torah portions, you will want to keep several things in mind. First, realize that if you follow the traditional reading schedule, there are millions of Jewish people doing the same thing you are doing at the same time! That is a lot of Bible reading taking place! In many synagogues, there are study groups where the weekly parasha is read and studied. They sometimes meet on Shabbat or during the weekdays. Your study would be greatly enhanced by attending such a group.

   Second, remember that it is Godâs Word that you are studying. It is a blessing to read and study it. Traditional Jewish people have developed blessings for almost every experience in life, demonstrating their thankfulness to the Holy One for each part of their life. It is the same with reading the Bible. Accordingly, it is customary to bless God before and after the reading of the Torah and the Haftarah.

   We have included the traditional blessings here. They are in English, transliterated Hebrew, and Hebrew. Please note not only the beauty of these blessings, but also the truth they contain. They accurately express what the new creation believes about the God who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures!

   If you are involved in a group study, the leader could recite the blessings on behalf of the whole group. If you want more liturgical information about the typical Torah reading service in the synagogue, you can read it in any Siddur (prayer book).

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who selected us from all the peoples and gave us His Torah. Blessed are You, O Lord, the Giver of the Torah. Amen.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who gave us the Torah of truth and planted everlasting life within us. Blessed are You, O Lord, the Giver of the Torah. Amen.

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has chosen good prophets and was pleased with their words that are stated in truth. Blessed are You, O Lord, who chooses the Torah; Moshe, His servant; Israel, His nation; and the prophets of truth and righteousness. Amen.

     (The blessing which is usually said is a rather lengthy one, and includes other things besides a blessing for the Prophets. Therefore, I will include here only the first paragraph, without a transliteration or the Hebrew.)

Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Rock of all the worlds, righteous throughout all generations, O faithful God, who says and does, who speaks and fulfills, all of whose words are true and just. Faithful are You, O Lord our God, and faithful are Your words. Not one of Your promises will remain unfulfilled, for You are a faithful and merciful King. Blessed are You, the God who is faithful in all His words.