PARASHOT Meaning and
Definition
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Parashot is a Hebrew word, plural form of "parashah," which refers to a section or portion of the Torah, the sacred text of Judaism. It is one of the divisions of the Torah that organizes the weekly readings for synagogue services throughout the year.
Each parashah consists of a specific portion of the Torah, approximately one chapter, which is read aloud publicly during Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) services over the course of the year. This division allows for the Torah to be read in its entirety on an annual cycle, ensuring that the entire Jewish community has the opportunity to engage with the text.
The parashot are arranged in a prescribed order, following a schedule known as the "parashat ha-shavua" (the weekly parashah). This cycle begins with the reading of Parashat Bereshit (Genesis) at the start of the Jewish year, and concludes with the reading of Parashat V'Zot HaBracha (Deuteronomy) on Simchat Torah, the holiday that celebrates the completion of the Torah cycle.
The parashot often have a specific theme or narrative focus, featuring significant events, laws, commandments, and teachings. They provide a consistent structure for the study, interpretation, and discussion of the Torah within Jewish communities, fostering a collective understanding and engagement with the foundational texts of Judaism.
Etymology of PARASHOT
The word "parashot" is derived from the Hebrew language. In Hebrew, the plural form of "parashah" is "parashot". "Parashah" (פָּרָשָׁה) is a term used in Judaism to refer to a weekly portion of the Torah, the central religious text of Judaism. Each week, a specific section of the Torah is read in synagogues as part of the Shabbat (Sabbath) service. These sections are divided into parashot. The word "parashah" itself means "portion" or "section" in Hebrew.
