parasha

In Judaism, a parasha (or parashah) refers to a specific section of the Torah that is read aloud in the synagogue as part of the weekly Sabbath service. The entire Torah, which comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), is read over the course of a full year. This practice ensures that the laws and stories of Jewish life are accessible to all congregants.12

The weekly portion, known as a sidra, is divided into seven smaller sections, with each section being called a parasha. Calling upon different individuals to read each parasha is considered an honor. The tradition of reading the Torah publicly was extended to all Sabbath services in the 3rd century BCE to make the laws of Jewish life accessible. The custom of completing the reading in one year, rather than the earlier three-and-a-half-year cycle, originated during the Babylonian Exile.1