parsha
Weekly scripture reading
Parsha is the Hebrew term for a weekly Torah portion read aloud in synagogue services.
The Torah is divided into 54 parshiot (the Hebrew plural), cycling through the entire text over the course of a Jewish year.
Each parsha takes its name from a distinctive Hebrew word near its beginning: This week's parsha is Bereshit, the story of creation.
Jews often refer to studying or discussing the parsha as part of weekly religious practice.
Jewish day of rest
- synagogueJewish house of worship
- bimahSynagogue's central platform
- aliyahTorah reading summons
- blessingPrayer seeking divine favor
congregation · minyan · chanting · trope · aron kodesh · kohen · kiddush · observance
Divided share given
- GenesisFirst biblical book
- ExodusMass departure from a place
- LeviticusHebrew scripture of rituals
- NumbersQuantity-representing symbols
Deuteronomy · aliyah · triennial · annual cycle · scroll · sidra · lectionary · division
Shabbat
Jewish day of rest
blessing · congregation · minyan · chanting · trope · aron kodesh · kohen · kiddush · observance
portion
Divided share given
Numbers · Deuteronomy · aliyah · triennial · annual cycle · scroll · sidra · lectionary · division · section
commentary
Explanatory remarks on events
- midrashJewish biblical commentary
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
interpretation · Talmud · halacha · aggadah · sod · yeshiva · discussion · insight · teaching · sermon
- JudaismShabbat, kosher, Passover, Torah, Hanukkah
- TorahGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- synagogueark, bimah, Torah scroll, Torah ark, aron kodesh
- ShabbatShabbat candles, kiddush, challah, candle lighting, Shabbat meals
- Torah readingTorah scroll, Torah portion, aliyah, trope, kohen
- bar mitzvahTorah reading, aliyah, bimah, trope, Hebrew school