Haftarot
The haftarah (plural: haftarot) is a text selected from the books of Nevi'im ("The Prophets") that is read publicly in the synagogue after the reading of the Torah on each Sabbath, as well as on Jewish festivals and fast days. The haftarah usually has a thematic link to the Torah reading that precedes it. When the haftarah is read in the synagogue it is sung with cantillation, and its related blessings are said before and after it.
History
The origins of the practice to read the haftarah.
The Haftarah blessings
Haftarah cantillation
The haftarah is read with cantillation according to a unique melody (not with the same cantillation melody as the Torah). The tradition to read Nevi'im with its own special melody is attested to in late medieval sources, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic. A medieval Sephardic source notes that the melody for the haftarot is a slight variation of the tune used for reading the books of Nevi'im in general (presumably for study purposes).
Note that although many selections from Nevi'im are read as haftarot over the course of the year, the books of Nevi'im are not read in their entirety (as opposed to the Torah). Since Nevi'im as a whole is not covered in the liturgy, the melody for certain rare cantillation notes which appear in the books of Nevi'im but not in the haftarot have been forgotten.
Haftarah as a Bar-Mitzvah ritual
List of Haftarot
The selection from Nevi'im read as the haftarah is not always the same in all Jewish communities. When customs differ, this list indicates them as follows: A=Ashkenazic custom (AF=Frankfurt am Main; AH=Habad); I=Italian custom; S=Sephardic custom; Y=Yemenite custom. When these letters do not appear, all customs agree.
Haftarot for Genesis
(Initial samples.)
- Bereshit
- A: Isaiah 42:5-43:10 (AF, AH: Isaiah 42:5-21)
- I: Isaiah 42:1-21
- S: Isaiah 42:5-21
- Y: Isaiah 42:1-16
- Noah
- A: Isaiah 54:1-55:5 (AF, AH: Isaiah 54:1-10)
- I: Isaiah 54:1-55:5
- S: Isaiah 55:1-10 (Maghreb: Isaiah 54:1-55:5 as in A, I)
- Y: Isaiah 54:1-55:5 (some communities: Isaiah 54:1-55:3)
- Lekh-lekha
- Vayera
- Hayyei Sarah:
- A, S: I Kings 1:1-31
- I: I Kings 1:1-34
- Y: I Kings 1:1-31,46. (Dardai communities: I Kings 1:1-31 as per A, S)
- Toledot
Haftarot for Exodux
Haftarot for Leviticus
Haftarot for Numbers
Haftarot for Deuteronomy
Haftarot for special Sabbaths, Festivals, and Fast Days
Also see:
Nevi'im, cantillation
External links:
