Chapter 72:11
The Sanctity of the Sabbath
11. One must coordinate one's personal reading of the weekly Torah portion,
with the schedule of the public Torah readings of the community (1); that
is, each week one should read the weekly Torah portion twice in the Hebrew
original and once in the Aramaic translation (2). From Sunday onwards is
considered "with the schedule of...the community," because there is a
public synagogue reading of the first few paragraphs of the coming week's
Torah portion, during the afternoon service on Sabbath. It is most
preferable ("Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar"), however, to read it on Friday
afternoon(3) .
One should read each paragraph (whether "Pesucha," open, or "Sesuma,"
closed (4) ) twice, followed by its Aramaic translation. Even if the
paragraph ends in the middle of a verse, one should stop there and read the
translation (5). At the conclusion of the Torah portion, one should repeat
the final verse in Hebrew after the Aramaic translation, so that one
concludes with a verse from the Torah itself. It is preferable not to
interrupt the reading with conversation.
Some have the custom to read the Haftorah. Others also read the Song of Songs.
If one is travelling and does not have a Chumash (Five Books of Moses) with
an Aramaic translation, he should simply read the Hebrew twice, and when he
reaches a place where an Aramaic translation is available, he should read
it then. It is proper for every G-d-fearing person to study Rashi's
commentary of the weekly Torah portion. If he is incapable of doing so, he
should study a commentary of the weekly portion written in his own
language, so that he understands its themes.
(1) The Talmud in Tractate Brachos 8b relates: "Anyone who coordinates his
personal reading of the weekly Torah portion with the schedule of the
public Torah readings of the community, will have his life lengthened."
(2) Reading through any Torah-based, non-literal translation, and, even
reading through Rashi's commentary, are both, according to many
authorities, the equivalent of reading the Aramaic translation, and one may
fulfill one's obligation by doing so. Those verses upon which Rashi did not
expound should be read three times in the Hebrew. (Mishna Berura 285:4).
(3) The Shulchan Aruch (OH 285:4) writes that it is considered "Mitzvah min
HaMuvchar" as long as one has completed one's reading before the lunchtime
Shabbos meal. The Vilna Gaon would read a little each day of the week after
morning prayers, finishing by the time Shabbos arrived.
(4) The Midrash (brought by Rashi on Leviticus 1:1) informs us that when
Hashem was teaching the Torah to Moshe on Mt Sinai, Moshe was given a break
between each new section, and even between each new idea within a section,
to allow him to contemplate and absorb what he was being taught. These
breaks are represented graphically in the Torah scroll; those between one
whole section and the next, are represented by a graphical break through
the end of the line, and are called "Pesucha," ("open"); those breaks
between each new idea within a section consist of nine blank spaces in
mid-line, and are called "Sesuma" ("closed").
(5) There are other Halachic authorities who hold that one should read each
verse twice, followed by its translation. Some even read through the whole
weekly portion in Hebrew twice, and only then read through the translation.
One may choose whichever method one prefers. (Mishna Berura 285:1).
