Definition

Noun: A portion from the books of the Prophets (Nevi'im) in the Hebrew Bible that is chanted or read in the synagogue service on the Sabbath, festivals, and fast days, immediately following the reading from the Torah (the Pentateuch).

Usage

The haphtarah (also spelled haftarah or haftorah) is an integral part of the Jewish liturgical service. Its selection is thematically linked to the weekly Torah portion (parashah) or to the specific holy day.

Examples

• The rabbi chanted the with a traditional melody.
• After the Torah scroll was returned to the ark, the reader approached the lectern to recite the .
• Studying the portion helps understand the connection to the week's Torah reading.

Advanced Usage

• The person honored with reciting the is called the . The same person also recites the concluding verses of the Torah portion.
• On certain special Sabbaths and all major festivals, the is chosen for its direct relevance to the day's themes rather than the weekly Torah portion.

Variants and Related Words

• Haftarah: The most common alternate spelling in English.
• Haftorah: Another common phonetic spelling.
• Maftir (noun): Refers both to the person who reads the and to the final section of the Torah reading that precedes it.
• Nevi'im (noun): The Prophets, the section of the Hebrew Bible from which the is selected.

Synonyms

• Haftarah reading
• Prophetic portion
• Selection from the Prophets

Notes on Meaning

The word originates from the Hebrew הפטרה (haftarah), meaning "conclusion" or "dismissal," as it traditionally concluded the formal Torah reading service. It is a singular noun; the plural form is haphtarot or haftarot.

Noun

1. a short selection from the Prophets read on every Sabbath in a Jewish synagogue following a reading from the Torah