Torah Reading
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When the Torah Reading Cycle Begins
Why don’t we begin reading the Torah again from Bereshit (Genesis) on Rosh Hashana? That’s a great question. Rosh Hashana is the anniversary of creation. Even though we know that the Torah was created before the world, it was not…
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Musical Notations for the Torah Reading
Regarding the musical notations associated with the public reading of the Torah, are there different traditions for the exact notations, or are the notations the same in every tradition but maybe linked differently, or embellished? There are significant differences among…
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Hurried Blessings
Please excuse me if this question seems like criticism; it is not. I’m simply asking about something I observe. At several synagogues I have attended, each person called to the Torah zooms through the Blessings at a mile a minute.…
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Division of the Torah into Portions
I was wondering who created the division into Torah Portions? What was it based on? Was it done before or after the introduction of verses and chapters? Hi! I don’t know exactly when the portions were divided, but the Talmud…
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Isaiah 54
I heard that Isaiah 54 is never read in any synagogue service or any Jewish feast. Is it true that this is because it somehow shadows the validity of Jesus’ claim as the Jewish messiah? There is no source anywhere…
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The 6th Aliyah
Why is the 6th Aliyah considered the most important in Hasidic circles? There are different customs as to which is the most important Aliyah. In Chassidic circles the 6th is considered to be most important as that is the one…
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Torah Reading Assistance
Is it permitted, when reading Torah, to glance back and forth at a Chumash (a vowelled text of the 5 books of the Torah) for accuracy, etc? It is permissible, but not preferable as it will greatly delay the reading…
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Ecclesiastes
When is Ecclesiastes recited? Ecclesiastes is read on the day of the Sukkot holiday that coincides with Shabbat (the Sabbath). If the first day of Sukkot is Shabbat it is read the following Shabbat. Not all synagogues have this custom.