READINGS

The Torah (also known as the Five Books of Moses and Pentateuch) is divided into five books -- Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy -- and these five books are divided into chapters and verses, which are used in Christian versions of the Bible as well. There is another system, however, that Jews use to divide the Torah, which corresponds to the weekly public readings. This system divides the five books into portions, and the portions are divided into readings. Generally speaking, one portion is read in the synagogue each week. On Saturday (Shabbat) mornings, when full portions are read, they are broken into eight readings, the last of which is called the maftir. Each reading opens and closes with blessings, which it is an honor to give. These honors (aliyahs) are generally distributed to the bar/bat mitzvah child and family on the day of the event.

Depending on the congregation, the bar/bat mitzvah child reads more or less of the Torah portion. In some synagogues he/she reads the whole portion if he/she is able; at others only the maftir. At still others, the child reads only the haftorah, which consists of prescribed passages from the books of the Bible known as Prophets. The haftorah generally comments on the themes of the Torah portion.


The Text

The Torah portion is read directly from the Torah. Its script contains only consonants. This is due to a warning in Deuteronomy 31:9 and 31:19 that the Torah must be handed down in the form in which God gave it to Moses. Since ancient Hebrew had no vowels or punctuation, it became customary to write the Torah without them either. As a result, the Torah scroll cannot be easily read even by people highly conversant with Hebrew. Portions are therefore studied beforehand from printed books where vowels are shown. Ideally the student studies the notated and unnotated text side by side so that he/she becomes familiarized with the words and can read them with the aid of memory when the bar/bat mitzvah day comes. Books called Tikkuns often display both versions and are therefore ideal for study purposes. The Torah Portions pages in Navigating the Bible also show both versions and feature audio files that demonstrate how the words are pronounced and sung.

In contrast to the Torah portion, the haftorah is generally read from a book or printed sheet with text that is fully notated.


Cantillation

Printed copies of the Torah and haftorah text contain cantillation notes along with vowels and punctuation. These notes indicate how the words are to be sung in public readings. While there is one system of notes, the notes are sung differently when applied to the Torah portions and haftorahs. They are also sung differently on certain holidays. One way to prepare for a bar/bat mitzvah reading is to memorize one's portion or haftorah, notes and all. Another is to learn the note system, which, once learned, enables the student to chant any portion.

Navigating the Bible
© 1995 World ORT Union