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The Festival Torah Lectionary

By Hakham Dr. Yosef ben Haggai

Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David (Greg Killian)

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The Jewish Festival Lectionary is perhaps the most ancient of all Lectionaries with some minor modifications since its inception at Mt. Sinai. The Festival Torah readings are totally independent of the Annual or Triennial / Septennial weekly Torah Lectionaries.

 

When a Festival, or minor festival, or a special Shabbat takes place, the normal weekly Torah Lectionary is set aside and, the Festival Torah Lectionary comes into effect. This is a key principle in all Jewish Lectionaries, and one that many fail to recognize and / or adhere to.

 

Therefore, there is no such literal “Triennial Lectionary” in practice, but the norm is that the outcome must be two cycles of “Triennial Lectionary” + “Festival Torah Lectionary” = Septennial lectionary cycle.

 

It is therefore impossible to have strictly two, three and a half year cycles or an annual Torah Lectionary divorced from the Festival Lectionary. 

 

The weekly Torah Readings in a normal Triennial Lectionary does not supersede the Festival readings unless the Festival Lectionary demands that the weekly Torah Seder be read, but the Festival Ashlamatah always supersedes the “weekly” prescribed Ashlamatah. Having said this, a case may be made that the weekly Torah Sedarim and Ashlamatot immediately before or after a festival or fast provides a hint that a festival or fast will arrive, or arrived before that particular Shabbat.

 

The following table details the specific passages for both the Torah and the Ashlamatot (Haftarah) readings.


OCCASION

TORAH READING

HAFTARAH READING

Weekday

Pesach, first day

Exodus 12:21-51

(1)   12:21-24

(2)   12:25-28

(3)   12:29-36

(4)   12:37-42

(5)   12:43-51

(M) Numbers 28:16-25

Sephardim:

  Joshua 5:2 – 6:1 + 27

 

Ashkenaz:

  Joshua 3:5-7;

  Joshua 5:2 – 6:1 + 27

Shabbat

Pesach First Day

Exodus 12:14-51

(1)   12:14-16

(2)   12:17-20

(3)   12:21-24

(4)   12:25-28

(5)   12:29-36

(6)   12:37-42

(7)   12:43-51

(M) Numbers 28:16-25

Joshua 5:2 – 6:1 + 27

Pesach, second day

Leviticus 22:26-23:44

(1)   22:26 – 23:3

(2)   23:4-14

(3)   23:15-22

(4)   23:23-32

(5)   22:33-44

(M) Numbers 28:16-25

II Kings 23:1-9; 21-25

Pesach

1st of the Intermediate Days

Exodus 13:1-16

(1)   13:1-4

(2)   13:5-10

(3)   13:11-16

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

Song of Songs 1:1 – 2:17

Pesach

2nd of the Intermediate Days

Exodus 22:24 – 23:19

(1)   22:24-26

(2)   22:27 – 23:5

(3)   23:6-19

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

Song of Songs 3:1 – 4:16

Pesach

3rd of the Intermediate Days

Exodus 34:1-26

(1)   34:1-10

(2)   34:11-17

(3)   34:18-26

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

Song of Songs 5:1 – 6:13

Pesach

4th of the Intermediate Days

Numbers 9:1-14

(1)   9:1-5

(2)   9:6-8

(3)   9:9-14

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

Song of Songs 7:1 – 8:14

Pesach

Shabbat of the Intermediate Days

Exodus 33:12-34:26

(1)   33:12-16

(2)   33:17-19

(3)   33:20-23

(4)   34:1-3

(5)   34:4-10

(6)   34:11-17

(7)   34:18-26

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

Sephardim:

  Ezekiel 37:1-14

 

Some Ashkenazim:

  Ezekiel 36:37–37:17

Pesach, 7th day

Exodus 13:17-15:26

(1)   13:17-22

(2)   14:1-8

(3)   14:9-14

(4)   14:15-26

(5)   14:26 – 15:26

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

II Samuel 22:1-51

Weekday

Pesach, 8th day

Deuteronomy 15:19 – 16:17

(1)   15:19-23

(2)   16:1-3

(3)   16:4-8

(4)   16:9-12

(5)   16:13-17

(M) Numbers 28:18-25

Isaiah 10:32 – 12:6

Sabbath

Pesach, 8th day

Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17

(1)   14:22-29

(2)   15:1-6

(3)   15:7-11

(4)   15:12-18

(5)   15:19-23

(6)   16:1-8

(7)   16:9-17

          (M) Numbers 28:18-25

Isaiah 10:32 – 12:6

Yom HaShoah

Normal weekly Torah Seder

II Samuel 1:17-27

Yom Ha-Atzmaut

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 60:1-22

Lag BaOmer

 

 

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions: Ephesians 1:1 – 6:24

Shabuot, first day

Exodus 19:1 – 20:23

(1)   19:1-6

(2)   19:7-13

(3)   19:14-19

(4)   19:20 – 20:14

(5)   20:15-23

(M) Numbers 28:26-31

Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12

Ruth 1:1 – 3:7

Azharot:

  The Positive

  Commandments

Weekday

Shabuot, second day

Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17

(1)   15:19-23

(2)   16:1-3

(3)   16:4-8

(4)   16:9-12

(5)   16:13-17

(M) Numbers 28:26-31

Habakkuk 2:20-3:19

Ruth 3:8 – 4:22

Azharot:

  The Negative

  Commandments

Shabbat

Shabuot, second day

Deuteronomy 14:22 – 16:17

(1)   14:22-29

(2)   15:1-18

(3)   15:19-23

(4)   16:1-3

(5)   16:4-8

(6)   16:9-12

(7)   16:13-17

(M) Numbers 28:26-31

Habakkuk 2:20-3:19

Ruth 3:8 – 4:22

Azharot:

  The Negative

  Commandments

Fast of the  17th of Tammuz

Exodus 32:11-14; 34:1-11

(1)   Ex. 32:11-14

(2) Ex. 34:1-4

      (3) Ex. 34:6-11

Isaiah 55:6 – 56:8

 

Shabbat immediately after 17th of Tammuz –

Shhabat Dibre Yirmeyahu

1st Penitential Sabbath

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3

Last Shabbat of Tammuz –

Shabbat Shim’u

2nd Penitential Sabbath

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Sephardim:

   Jeremiah 2:4-28 + 4:1-2

 

Ashkenazim:

   Jeremiah 2:4-28 + 3:4

Shabbat before Tisha B’Ab -

Shabbat Chazon

3rd Penitential Sabbath

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 1:1-27

Tisha B’Ab evening

No Torah Reading

Lamentations 1:1 – 5:22

Tisha B'Av, Morning

Deuteronomy 4:25-40

Jeremiah 8:13-9:23

Tisha B'Av afternoon

Exodus 32:11-14; 34:1-11

(1) Ex. 32:11-15

(2) Ex. 34:1-4

      (3) Ex. 34:6-10

Hosea 14:2-10;

Micah 7:18-20

1st Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 1

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 40:1-26

2nd Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 2

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 49:14 – 51:3

3rd Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 3

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 54:11 – 55:5

4th Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 4

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12

5th Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 5

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 54:1-10

6th Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 6

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 60:1-22

7th Shabbat of Consolation

Shabbat Nachamu 7

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Isaiah 61:10 – 63:9

Other Fast Days

Exodus 32:11-14; 34:1-10

Isaiah 55:6 – 56:8

Weekday

Rosh Hashanah, first day

 

Weekday: Genesis 21:1-34

(1)  Gen. 21:1-4

(2)  Gen. 21:5-12

(3)  Gen. 21:13-21

(4)  Gen. 21:22-27

(5)  Gen. 21:28-34

(M) Numbers 29:1-6

I Samuel 1:1-2:10

Shabbat

Rosh Hashanah, first day

 

Shabbat: Genesis 21:1-34

(1)  Gen. 21:1-4

(2)  Gen. 21:5-8

(3)  Gen. 21:9-12

(4)  Gen. 21:13-17

(5)  Gen. 21:18-21

(6)  Gen. 21:22-27

(7)  Gen. 21:28-34

(M) Numbers 29:1-6

I Samuel 1:1-2:10

Rosh Hashanah, second day

Weekday: Genesis 22:1-24

(1)  Gen. 22:1-3

(2)  Gen. 22:4-8

(3)  Gen. 22:9-14

(4)  Gen. 22:15-19

(5)  Gen. 22:20-24

(M) Numbers 29:1-6

Jeremiah 31:1-19

Shabbat Shuvah

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Sefardim:

  Hosea 14:2-10;

  Micah 7:18-20

Ashkenazim:

  Hosea 14:2-10;

  Joel 2:15-17

 

These Ashlamatot must be recited by the greatest Torah scholar available to the congregation.

Fast of Gedaliah

Exodus 32:11-14; 34:1-11

(1)  Ex. 32:11-14

(2)  Ex. 34:1-4

(3)  Ex. 34:6-11

Isaiah 55:6 – 56:8

Weekday

Yom Kippur morning

 

Leviticus 16:1-34

(1) Lev. 16:1-6

(2) Lev. 16:7-11

(3) Lev. 16:12-17

(4) Lev. 16:18-24

(5) Lev. 16:25-30

(6) Lev. 16:31-34

(M) Numbers 29:7-11

Isaiah 57:14-58:14

Shabbat

Yom Kippur morning

 

Shabbat: Leviticus 16:1-34

(1)  Lev. 16:1-3

(2)  Lev. 16:4-7

(3)  Lev. 16:7-11

(4)  Lev. 16:12-17

(5)  Lev. 16:18-24

(6)  Lev. 16:25-30

(7)  Lev. 16:31-34

(M) Numbers 29:7-11

Isaiah 57:14-58:14

Yom Kippur afternoon

Leviticus 18:1-30

(1)  Lev. 18:1-5

(2)  Lev. 18:6-21

(3)  Lev. 18:22-30

(M) Lev. 18:22-30

 

Ashkenazim:

  Jonah 1:1-4:11;

Sefardim:

  Jonah 1:1–4:11 &

  Micah 7: 18-20

 

Succoth, first day

Leviticus 22:26-23:44

(1)  Lev. 22:26 – 23:3

(2)  Lev. 23:4-14

(3)  Lev. 23:15-22

(4)  Lev. 23:23-31

(5)  Lev. 23:32-44

(M) Numbers 29:12-16

Zechariah 14:1-21

Succoth, second day

Leviticus 22:26-23:44

(1)  Lev. 22:26 – 23:3

(2)  Lev. 23:4-14

(3)  Lev. 23:15-22

(4)  Lev. 23:23-31

(5)  Lev. 23:32-44

      (M) Numbers 29:12-16

I Kings 8:2-21

Shabbat &

Succoth first or second day

Leviticus 22:26-23:44

(1)   Lev. 22:26-23:1

(2)   Lev. 23:1-3

(3)   Lev. 23:4-8

(4)   Lev. 23:9-14

(5)   Lev. 23:15-23

(6)   Lev. 23:24-32

(7)   Lev. 23:33-44

(M) Numbers 29:12-16

 

 

If first day of Succoth:

  Zechariah 14:1-21

 

If second day of Succoth:

  I Kings 8:2-21

First Intermediate

Weekday of Succoth

Numbers 29:17-22

(1)   Num. 29:17-19

(2)   Num. 29:20-22

(3)   Num. 29:23-25

(4)   Num. 29:17-22

 

Second Intermediate

Weekday of Succoth

Numbers 29:20-26

(1)   Num. 29:20-22

(2)   Num. 29:23-25

(3)   Num. 29:26-28

(4)   Num. 29:20-26

 

Third Intermediate

Weekday of Succoth

Numbers 29:23-28

(1)   Num. 29:23-25

(2)   Num. 29:26-28

(3)   Num. 29:29-31

(4)   Num. 29:23-28

 

Fourth Intermediate

Weekday of Succoth

 

Numbers 29:26-31

(1)   Num. 29:26-28

(2)   Num. 29:29-31

(3)   Num. 29:32-34

(4)   Num. 29:26-31

 

Intermediate Shabbat

during Succoth

Exodus 33:12-34:26

(1)   Ex. 33:12-16

(2)   Ex. 33:17-19

(3)   Ex. 33:20-23

(4)   Ex. 34:1-3

(5)   Ex. 34:4-10

(6)   Ex. 34:11-17

(7)   Ex. 34:18-26

(M) Shabbat 1st Int. Day

       Num. 29:17-22

       Shabbat 3rd Int. Day

       Num. 29:23-28

       Shabbat 4th Int. Day

       Num. 29:26-31

Ezekiel 38:18 – 39:16

Hoshana Raba

Numbers 29:29-34

(1)   Numbers 29:22-29

(2)   Numbers 29:29-31

(3)   Numbers 29:32-34

(4)   Numbers 29:22-31

 

Weekday

Shemini Atzeret

Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17

(1)   Deut. 15:19-23

(2)   Deut. 16:1-3

(3)   Deut. 16:4-8

(4)   Deut. 16:9-12

(5)   Deut. 16:13-17

(M) Numbers 29:35-30:1

I Kings 8:54-66

Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 12:14

Shabbat

Shemini Atzeret

Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17

(1)   Deut. 14:22-29

(2)   Deut. 15:1-6

(3)   Deut. 15:7-11

(4)   Deut. 15:12-18

(5)   Deut. 15:19-23

(6)   Deut. 16:1-8

(7)   Deut. 16:9-17

(M) Numbers 29:35–30:1

I Kings 8:54-66

Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 12:14

Simchat Torah Evening

Deuteronomy 33:1-26

(1)   Deut. 33:1-7

(2)   Deut. 33:8-12

(3)   Deut. 33:13-17

(4)   Deut. 33:18-21

(5)   Deut. 33:22-26

 

Simchat Torah Morning

Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12

Genesis 1:1-2:3

(1)   Deut. 33:1-7

(2)   Deut. 33:8-12

(3)   Deut. 33:13-17

(4)   Deut. 33:18-21

(5)   Deut. 33:22-26

Chatan Torah:

   Deut.33:27 -34:12

Chatan B’resheet:

  Gen. 1:1-2:3

      (M) Numbers 29:35-30:1

Joshua 1:1-9

Chanukah First Day

Numbers 7:1-17

(1)   Num. 7:1-3

(2)   Num. 7:4-11

(3)   Num. 712-17

Yehudit (Judith) 1:1 – 2:28

1 Maccabees 1:1 – 2:48

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Genesis 1:1-5; & 1 John 1:1-10

Chanukah Second Day

Numbers 7:18-29

(1)   Num. 7:18-20

(2)   Num. 7:21-23

(3)   Num. 7:24-29

Yehudit (Judith) 3:1 – 5:17

1 Maccab. 2:49 – 4:40

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Isaiah 5:20-24; & 1 John 2:1-11

Chanukah Third Day

Numbers 7:24-35

(1)   Num. 7:24-26

(2)   Num. 7:27-29

(3)   Num. 7:30-35

Yehudit (Judith) 5:18 – 7:16

1 Maccab. 4:41 – 6:27

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Isaiah 42:18; & 1 John 2:12-29

Chanukah Fourth Day

Numbers 7:30-41

(1)   Num. 7:30-32

(2)   Num. 7:33-35

(3)   Num. 7:36-41

Yehudit (Judith) 7:17 – 8:27

1 Maccab. 6:28 – 8:32

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Isaiah 42:16; & 1 John 3:1-24

Chanukah Fifth Day

Numbers 7:36-47

(1)   Num. 7:36-38

(2)   Num. 7:39-41

(3)   Num. 7:42-47

Yehudit (Judith) 8:28 – 10:23

1 Maccabees 9:1 – 10:32

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Psalm 43:3; Proverbs 20:27; 1 John 4:1-12

Chanukah Sixth Day

(also Rosh Chodesh Tevet)

Numbers 28:1-15

(1)   Num. 28:1-5

(2)   Num. 28:6-10

(3)   Num. 28:11-15

(4)   Num. 7:42-47

Yehudit (Judith) 11:1 – 12:20

1 Maccabees 10:33 – 11:59

Psalm 30

Proverbs  7:1-27

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Psalm 27:1; Psalm 119:105; & 1 John 4:13-21

Chanukah Seventh Day

Numbers 7:48-59

(1)   Num. 7:48-50

(2)   Num. 7:51-53

(3)   Num. 7:54-59

Yehudit (Judith) 13:1 – 14:19

1 Maccabees 11:60 – 13:47

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Isaiah 9:1-2; & 1 John 5:1-12

Chanukah Seventh Day

2nd  Day Rosh Chodesh Tevet

Numbers 28:1-15

(1)   Num. 28:1-5

(2)   Num. 28:6-10

(3)   Num. 28:11-15

(4)   Num. 7:48-53

Yehudit (Judith) 13:1 – 14:19

1 Maccabees 11:60 – 13:47

Psalm 30

Proverbs 7:1-27

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Isaiah 9:1-2; & 1 John 5:1-12

Chanukah Eighth Day

Numbers 7:54-89

(1)   Num. 7:54-56

(2)   Num. 7:57-59

(3)   Num. 7:60-89

Yehudit (Judith) 15:1 – 16:25

1 Maccab. 13:48 – 16:24

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

Zechariah 14:6-7; & 1 John 5:13-21

First Shabbat of

Chanukah

Numbers 7:1-59

(1)   7:1-11

(2)   7:12-23

(3)   7:24-29

(4)   7:30-35

(5)   7:36-41

(6)   7:42-47

(7)   7:48-59

(M) Numbers 28:9-15

Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

3 John 1-14 (and if only Sabbath in Chanukah add: 2 John 1-13)

Second Shabbat of Chanukah

Numbers 7:54 – 8:4

(1)   7:54-59

(2)   7:60-65

(3)   7:66-71

(4)   7:72-77

(5)   7:78-83

(6)   7:84-89

(7)   8:1-4

(M) 8:1-4

Sephardim: I Kings 7:13-26

 

Ashkenazim: I Kings 7:40-50

Psalm 30

Nazareans add in their private study and discussions:

2 John 1-13

Shabbat Shekalim

Exodus 30:1-38

(1)    30:1-5

(2)    30:6-10

(3)    30:11-16

(4)    30:17-21

(5)    30:22-25

(6)    30:26-33

(7)    30:34-38

(M) Shabbat Mevar’chin Ha-Hodesh read appro-priate Torah section, otherwise same as the 7th reading.

Psalms 49

 

Sephardim:

  II Kings 11:17–12:17

 

Askenazim:

  II Kings 12:1-17

Shabbat Zakhor

Deuteronomy 24 :19 – 25:19

       (1) 24:19-22

       (2) 25:1-4

       (3) 25:5-7

       (4) 25:8-10

       (5) 2511-13

       (6) 25:14-16

       (7) 25:17-19

       (M) 25:17-19

Psalms 109

 

Sephardim:

  I Samuel 15:1-34

 

Ashkenazim:

  I Samuel 15:2-34

Purim

Exodus 17:8-16

(1)   17:8-10

(2)   17:11-13

(3)   17:14-16

The Book of Esther

Shabbat Parah

Numbers 19:1 – 20:13

(1)   19:1-3

(2)   19:4-6

(3)   19:7-10

(4)   19:11-16

(5)   19:17-22

(6)   20:1-6

(7)   20:7-13

       (M) 20:7-13

Psalms 51

 

Sephardim: Ezekiel 36:16-36

 

Ashkenazim: Ezekiel 36:16-38

Shabbat Ha-Chodesh

Exodus 12:1-20 + regular weekly portion (Annual)

 

Exodus 11:1 – 12:28 (triennial)

(1)   11:1-3

(2)   11:4-10

(3)   12:1-5

(4)   12:6-10

(5)   12:11-13

(6)   12:14-17

(7)   12:18-20

(M) 12:18-20

Psalms 77

 

Sephardim:

  Ezekiel 45:18-46:15

 

Ashkenazim:

  Ezekiel 45:16-46:18

 

Shabbat Ha-Gadol

Normal weekly Torah Seder

Malachi 3:4-24

Shabbat & Rosh Chodesh

Numbers 27:15 – 28:25

(1)   27:15-17

(2)   27:18-20

(3)   27:21-23

(4)   28:1-9

(5)   28:10-14

(6)   28:15-18

(7)   28:19-25

(M) 28:23-25

Isaiah 66:1-24

Shabbat immediately

preceding Rosh Chodesh

Normal weekly Torah Seder

I Samuel 20:18-42

 

 

 

 

This study was written by

Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David (Greg Killian).

Comments may be submitted to:

 

Rabbi Dr. Greg Killian

12210 Luckey Summit

San Antonio, TX 78252

 

Internet address:  gkilli@aol.com

Web page:  https://www.betemunah.org/

 

(360) 918-2905

 

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