Haftorah

/ˌhɑːfˈtoʊrə/ noun

Definition

A passage from the Prophets section of the Hebrew Bible that is read aloud in synagogue services, typically following the Torah reading.

Etymology

From Hebrew 'haftarah,' meaning 'conclusion' or 'finishing.' The tradition developed during the Second Temple period as a way to supplement the Torah reading with related prophetic passages.

Kelly Says

The haftorah tradition accidentally preserved many ancient Hebrew texts—when certain books were deemed too sacred to handle frequently, haftorah readings kept those stories alive in community memory for centuries.

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