Question
What is the reason for the sequence of the Torah readings on Pesach and Sukkos?
Answer
On the second day of Pesach and the first two days of Sukkos, we read from Emor; on the eighth day of Pesach and on Shemini Atzeres we read from Re’eh. The first and seventh days of Pesach have special readings to mark Yetzias Mitzrayim and Kerias Yam Suf, and similarly Simchas Torah is special. On Shabbos Chol ha-Moed we read from Ki Sisa; Emor is read before Ki Sisa because it mentions Sefiras Ha-Omer, which begins on the second day of Pesach.