Tanach (Hebrew Scriptures)
The Tanach (mistakenly known as the "Old Testament") is made up of the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The Tanach was canonized in approximately 500 BCE by the Men of the Great Assembly. The Tanach was not originally broken into chapter and verses. The idea of chapter and verses - as well as the breaking apart of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles - is a leftover from Christians in the 13th century. Before the study of Torah a brocha (blessing) is said in which the person thanks G-d for giving the Jews Torah. There have been many rabbis who have written commentaries on the Torah. Any complete study of the Torah needs to include some commentary from these sages. (For further information see: Who wrote the Tanach?)

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Torah - [Torah Topics]
The Torah (the Books of Moses) (תורה) is made up of five books that were given to Moshe Rabbenu (Moses our Teacher) directly from G-d shortly after the Exodus from Mitzraim around 1230BCE. The Written and Oral Torahs (Mishnah) was handed down through the successive generations from the time of Moses.

G-d
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Moses
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Joshua
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Elders
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Prophets
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Men of the Great Assembly
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Pharisees
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Rabbis

The Torah covers the time from the creation of the earth and the first humans, the Great Flood and the covenant with the gentiles, the enslavement of and Exodus from the Hebrews in Mitzraim, giving of the Torah (Written and Oral), renewal of Covenant given to Avraham, festivals established, wandering through the desert, the Tabernacle Ark, and Priestly duties, and the death of Moshe Rabbenu. The Torah is broken down into parts (parsha). Each Parsha is usually named after one of the first words of that section of the Torah. The Parsha is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an aliyah since one person "goes up" to make a brocha (blessing) on the Torah Reading. There is also an additional eighth section called the Maftir. The Maftir is either a repetition of the last few verses from the seventh aliyah or a special reading on special Shabbats. The Torah is read every year according to a Torah reading schedule. The Babylonian Jewish community divided the Torah into 54 portions which allowed for the complete reading of the Torah in one year. The Egyptian and Palestinian Jewish communities divided the Torah into 154 divisions allowing for the complete reading of the Torah in three-year cycles (triennial cycle).

Genesis (Bereshit) | Exodus (Shemot) | Leviticus (Vayikra) | Numbers (Bamidbar) | Deuteronomy (Devarim)

Weekly Readings

Special Readings

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Nevi'im - [Nevi'im Topics]
The Nevi'im (נביאים) covers the time period from the death of Moshe Rabbenu through the Babylonian exile (ca.1200BCE-587BCE) and contains 19 books. The Nevi'im covers the time from the Hebrews entering Eretz Yisrael, conquest of Jericho, conquest of Eretz Yisrael and division among the tribes, judicial system, Era of Saul and David, Solomon's wisdom and the construction of the First Temple, kings of Eretz Yisrael, prophecy, messianic prophecies, and the Babylonian exile.

Joshua | Judges | Samuel | Kings | Isaiah | Jeremiah | Ezekiel
The Twelve Prophets:
Hosea | Joel | Amos | Obadiah | Jonah | Micah | Nahum | Habakkuk | Zephaniah | Haggai | Zechariah | Malachi

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Ketuvim - [Ketuvim Topics]
The Ketuvim (כתובם) covers the period after the return from the Babylonian exile (6th century BCE) and contains 12 books. The Ketuvim is made up of various writings that do not have an overall theme. This section of the Tanach includes poems and songs, the stories of Job, Ruth, and Esther, the writings and prophecies of Daniel, and the history of the kings of Eretz Yisrael.

Psalms | Proverbs | Job | The Song of Songs | Ruth | Lamentations |
Ecclesiastes | Esther | Daniel | Ezra-Nehemiah | Chronicles

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Torah Blessing
*NOTE: For men (and [optional] women in non-Orthodox Judaism), whenever you are studying Torah or Talmud it is proper to have a head-covering such as a kippah.

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to engross ourselves in the words of Torah. Please, Hashem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouth and in the mouth of Your people, the House if Israel. May we and our offspring and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel—all of us—know Your Name and study Your Torah for its own sake. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel.

Blessed are You, Hashem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel.

ברון אתה יהוה אלהינו מלן העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו לעסוק בדברי תורה והערב נא יהוה אלהינו את דברי תורתן בפינו ובפי עמן בית ישראל ונהיה אנחנו וצאצאינו וצאצאי עמן בית ישראל כלנו יודעי שמן ולומדי תורתן לשמה ברוח אתה יהוה המלמד תורה לעמו ישראל

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2007-2008 Torah Reading Schedule (Printable 2007-2008 Torah Reading Schedule )

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