|
There are four Sabbaths during the year which do not coincide with holidays but nevertheless require readings from two Torah scrolls (and the extra ceremony attending to these readings). All four of these Sabbaths occur just before the 1st of Nissan, the start of the Biblical Year and just before the occurence of Passover. Collectively, these four sabbaths are called “The Four Shabbatot.”
1. Shabbat Shekalim
(shab-bat she-ka-LEEM) n. “Sabbath of the Shekels.” Read on Sabbath before the 1st of Adar. The Maftir (additional reading) from Exodus (30:11-16) describes the census of every Jew and the obligation to give a half-shekel terumah (contribution) during the month of Adar to pay for the public korbanot (sacrifices) offered in the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem. For us, it might be a time to remember those who offer personal sacrifices so that we also might draw closer to God.
2. Shabbat Zakhor
(shab-bat zah-KHOR) n. “Sabbath of Remembrance.” The additional (musaf) portion recalls the enmity of the Amalkites (Deut. 25:17-19). Read on the sabbath before Purim.
3. Shabbat Parah
(shab-bat pah-RAH) n. “Sabbath of the Red Cow.” The additional (musaf) portion recalls the Red Heifer sacrifice (Num. 19) and the making of the ashes for ritual purification. Read on the sabbath after Purim.
4. Shabbat HaChodesh
(shab-bat ha-KHOH-desh) n. “Sabbath of the Month.” The sabbath before the 1st of Nissan, the start of the biblical year (Ex. 12:1-20).
Other Special Sabbaths
In addition to the Four Shabbatot, there are some other Sabbaths that call for additional Torah readings to commemorate key events in Jewish history.
1. Shabbat HaGadol
(shab-bat ha-gah-DOHL) n. “The Great Sabbath”; the Sabbath immediately before the festival of Pesach (Passover), in commemoration of the time when the first generation set aside the Pascal lamb. The additional (musaf) is from Malachi 3.
2. Shabbat Chazon
(shab-bat kha-ZOHN) n. “The Sabbath of Vision.” The Sabbath preceding the Fast of Av (Tishah B’Av) during the Three Weeks of Sorrow is called Chazon since the Haftarah read is from the first chapter of Isaiah revealing the coming destruction of the Temple.
3. Shabbat Nachamu
(shab-bat na-kha-MOO) n. “The Sabbath of Comfort.” This Sabbath following Tisha’h B’Av when the portion read is from Isaiah 40, bespeaking the comfort of Israel after their exile.
4. Shabbat Shuvah
(shab-bat shoo-VAH) n. “The Sabbath of Repentance.” The Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Haftarah begins with Hosea 14:2, “Shuvah!”
5. Shabbat Bereshit
(shab-BAHT be-ray-SHEET) n. “The Sabbath of Beginning.” This Sabbath follows the feast of Sukkot (Simchat Torah) and the begins first portion of the annual Torah reading cycle.
|
