The weekly Parsha is the rhythm of the Jewish year: 54 portions, one a week, the whole Torah finished and restarted every Simchat Torah. This guide gives you a real plan to keep up — whether you're reading alone, with a chavruta partner, or leading a parsha class.
The weekly rhythm
- Sunday–Thursday: read one aliyah per day (≈ 7 minutes).
- Friday: re-read the full parsha in translation (≈ 20 minutes).
- Shabbat morning: hear the parsha chanted in shul.
- Shabbat meals: 10 minutes of parsha discussion at each meal.
The traditional version of this practice is shnayim mikra v'echad targum — twice in Hebrew, once in Aramaic translation — completed before Shabbat lunch. Even reading the parsha once in English by Friday night is a meaningful start.
Shabbat-table discussion in 10 minutes
The OIA pattern works beautifully on the parsha:
- Observation: "What's one verse or scene that stood out?"
- Interpretation: "What is this parsha teaching us about God, about people, about Israel?"
- Application: "What's one habit this parsha challenges in our week?"
Need a question pack on demand? Use the free small group discussion questions generator — type "Bereshit" or "Vayeira", get an icebreaker plus 9 questions you can read straight from your phone.
How to teach the parsha to kids
- Pick one character and one scene.
- Tell the story in 2 minutes.
- Ask: "What would you have done?"
- Tie it to one thing your family is actually doing this week.
- End with a song or niggun the kids already know.
How to teach the parsha in shul or chavruta
- Open with the central question of the parsha (Rashi or Ramban often frames one).
- Read 6–10 verses together — in Hebrew with translation.
- Bring in one classical commentary (Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Sforno) and one modern (Hirsch, Sacks, Soloveitchik).
- Debate one machloket (disagreement) the parsha raises.
- Close with one practical takeaway for the week.
The full annual cycle, at a glance
- Bereshit (Genesis): 12 parshiot — Creation, the patriarchs and matriarchs.
- Shemot (Exodus): 11 parshiot — Egypt, the giving of Torah, the Mishkan.
- Vayikra (Leviticus): 10 parshiot — Priestly service, holiness code.
- Bamidbar (Numbers): 10 parshiot — The wilderness journey.
- Devarim (Deuteronomy): 11 parshiot — Moses's final teachings.
Where Faith Common fits
Read the Torah verse-by-verse inside Faith Common, save your parsha notes week to week, and discuss with friends and your shul. Synagogues can create a free public page listing the week's parsha, service times, kiddush, and a visitor form so anyone curious can show up Shabbat morning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weekly Parsha?
The weekly Parsha (parashat hashavua) is the Torah portion read in synagogues each Shabbat. The Torah is divided into 54 parshiot so the entire Torah is read every year, beginning and ending on Simchat Torah.
How do I read the parsha during the week?
A traditional rhythm is 'shnayim mikra v'echad targum' — reading each verse twice in Hebrew and once in Aramaic translation across the week. A modern approach: Sunday-Thursday read one aliyah a day; Friday review; Shabbat hear it chanted in shul.
What are the best parsha discussion questions for a Shabbat table?
Ask one observation, one interpretation, and one application question per parsha. For example: (1) What surprised you in the text? (2) What does this portion teach about God or about people? (3) What's one habit this parsha challenges in our week ahead? Keep it short — 10 minutes is plenty.
How do I teach the parsha to kids?
Pick one character, one scene, one question. Tell the story in 2 minutes, ask 'what would you have done?', and connect it to something the family is actually doing this week. Repeat at every Shabbat meal until it's tradition.
Where can I read the parsha online for free?
Sefaria, Chabad.org, and AlHaTorah all publish the parsha with translations and commentary for free. Inside Faith Common, you can read the Torah verse-by-verse and discuss with friends and your synagogue.