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).

	Sanctity of the Sabbath Paragraph 10		Sanctity of the Sabbath Paragraphs 12-13
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