Sign up for Shabbat Torah & Haftarah Readings
We welcome Torah and Haftarah readers of all ages and ability levels! Sign up BELOW for available dates to read Torah or Haftarah on Shabbat mornings or holidays.
Torah Reading
Torah readers prepare to chant one aliyah of at least three verses. A short aliyah would be about twenty words. You can select anywhere in the parasha (Torah portion) that you want to read.
Haftarah Reading
Haftarah readers prepare to chant a reading of at least three verses. You can select anywhere in the portion that you want to read. You will also chant the Haftarah blessings before and after the reading.
I’ve signed up for a portion, now what?
We would be happy to support you in preparing for your reading in whatever way is most helpful to you.
1. Choose your verses
- You are always welcome to choose your own selection of Torah or Haftarah verses, as long as you’re doing at least three verses and they are consecutive. You can look up your portion in a chumash, a tanakh, or on Sefaria and find a section of verses that you find interesting or meaningful.
- If you need ideas for choosing a set of Torah verses, go to Hebcal and click on your Torah portion. You will see Triennial lists of short aliyot. You can click the verse numbers for an English translation, click the book icon to see what the verses look like in a Torah scroll, and click the audio icon to hear the verses chanted.
- If you would like suggestions or guidance on choosing Torah or Haftarah verses, please reach out to Rabbi David (rabbidavid@bethelohim.org), who would be happy to assist you.
- Once you have decided which Torah or Haftarah verses to chant, please let Rabbi David or Ritual Chair Jess Rosenblatt (ritual@bethelohim.org) know what you’ve chosen.
2. Gather practice materials
- Rabbi David would be happy to help make sure you have what you need in terms of the Hebrew verses with vowels and tropes, a copy of Torah verses from a tikkun (showing the reading without vowels, as it will appear in the Torah), and audio recordings.
- Additional online text and audio resources are listed below.
3. Practice your chanting
- If you would like support with practicing or want to set up a check in, please reach out to Rabbi David or Ritual Chair Jess Rosenblatt.
4. Chant your reading at Shabbat morning services
- We look forward to seeing you on the bimah!
Online Resources
Hebcal: Click HERE for chapter and verse information for Torah and Haftarah portions, including suggested aliyot lists.
My Jewish Learning - Torah/Haftarah Portions: Click HERE to learn about each parashah, including which chapter numbers and where to find them in the chumash (scroll down to see the full list of portions).
Chabad.org - Learn to Read Torah and Haftarah With Trope: Click HERE for this site that has the vocalized Hebrew and the words are highlighted as they are chanted. You can click around it and stop and start as you like.
Cantor Educator: Click HERE for large-font, printable texts and audio recordings of Torah/Haftarah portions.
PocketTorah: Click HERE for a free mobile app with all Torah portions, which you can view with vowels & tropes or as a tikkun, and listen to audio recordings.
Contact Rabbi David at rabbidavid@bethelohim.org or Ritual Chair Jess Rosenblatt at ritual@bethelohim.org for more information.