The Torah is the foundation of all Scripture. An inadequate or mis-understanding of the Torah makes it much more difficult to come to a proper understanding of the rest of the Bible. For this reason the Jewish sages have prescribed a regular system of studying the Torah each and every year. According to ancient records, this practice was in effect well before the time of Yeshua HaMashiach.

    It is believed this practice was begun by Ezra when the Jewish captives returned from Babylon. Over the years different formulas have been used. During the time of Yeshua there was one cycle of reading that was accomplished in one year’s time, and another cycle that took three years to complete.

~ When Torah was Forbidden ~

    During the reign of Antiochus Epiphanies, the Jewish people were not allowed to read the Torah, or to circumcise their children. Anyone caught doing so was put to death. Many were martyred because they circumcised their children. However, they managed to get around the prohibition concerning Torah reading in a very resourceful way. They set up a cycle of readings in the Nevi’im (The Prophets) that reminded them in some way of the Torah portion that was supposed to be read that particular week. It might have been a reference to a story found in the Torah reading or it could even be a single word that reminded them of that week’s Torah passage. After reading this Torah substitute, one of the men would say; "Oh, that reminds me of the story about..." and off they would go into a discussion about that week’s Torah reading without ever breaking the law against Torah reading. These portions from the Nevi’im became known as the Haftarah, which means "other readings."

~ Yeshua Read the Haftarah ~

    In Yeshua’s day it was customary (as it is today in orthodox synagogues) for both the weekly Torah and Haftarah portions of scripture to be read each Sabbath. This provided the basis for discussion by anyone who might want to comment upon it. It was also common to invite a distinguished guest to participate in the Torah or Haftarah readings and make whatever comments they deemed appropriate.
    This was the situation in which Yeshua found Himself when He visited his hometown of Nazareth, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as His custom was. (Luke 4:16). The passage He was given to read out of the book of Isaiah, is no longer found in the Haftarah readings of today. This could well be because the rabbinic Jews removed it due to the great distress and persecution they have received at the hands of the so-called followers of Jesus (the Christians) over the centuries. (It is impossible for anyone to say definitively one way or the other.) The point is. Torah and Haftarah reading was common practice then, and it is a tradition that still exists today. Yeshua held to many of the traditions of the Jews which did not contradict the Scriptures. Certainly, He both attended and participated in synagogue service on the Sabbath day, as also did the Apostle Paul.

~ The Torah Cycle ~

    The common practice today is to read the entirety of the Torah, and the companion Haftarah, scriptures in a one year cycle. This cycle begins on the first Sabbath after the Festival of Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles) with the very first reading which begins in Genesis 1:1. The following section gives the readings for each Sabbath and Holyday of the coming cycle. Those Believers who are currently gathering at home or in small fellowship groups might want to begin using the Torah readings as a basis for their Sabbath study. There are many Jewish commentaries available that can aid in this study. However, if you wish to have a written study and audio tape that directs its teaching of the Torah toward Yeshua HaMashiach, we would recommend that you contact: First Fruits of Zion, P0 Box 280827, Lakewood, CO 80228-0827, and ask about the Torah Club. They also publish a fine magazine, also called First Fruits of Zion, which also contains some commentary on the weekly Torah readings.]
    This year we have included suggested readings from the Brit Chadasha (Breet Hah-dah-shaw = New Testament or Renewed Covenant) to accompany the Torah and Haftarah readings. in addition, we have also included the special readings of the Megilloth (Meh-gill-oat = Books of; Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther). Three of the Megilloth are read on or during the annual Festivals and are listed in the following reading list. Lamentations is read on the Ninth of Av (See Hebrew Roots Issue 96-2); while Esther is read during the Festival of Purim. While the Ninth of Av and Purim are not commanded Festivals, they are important days in the history of the Jewish people.

Click here for the Current Weekly Torah Reading Schedule........

~ Sources ~

Spier, Arthur, The Comprehensive Hebrew Calendar, Feldheim Publishers, Jerusalem / NewYork, 1986.
Tanakh - The Holy Scriptures, The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia / New York, 1988.