Annual Bible Reading

Try to go through all our holy books in the course of your lifetime, so that you will have visited every place in the Torah. Wealthy people constantly travel from place to place, spending enormous sums in order to be able to boast about where they have been.

In the same way, in this life you should visit all the holy places in the Torah. Then in your future life you will be able to take pride in having visited every place in our holy literature. For in the world to come you will remember everything you have ever learned.

Rabbi Nachman (as quoted on www.Azamra.org)

You may already be familiar with the tradition of reading the weekly Torah Portion, but did you know there are traditional opportunities to regularly read other parts of the TaNaKh (i.e. the Hebrew Bible), such as the Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings)?^[1]

One way is to read the traditional selections for the major Jewish holidays, per the chart below. These are read and studied on the respective holiday and, even if you don’t celebrate the holiday, they offer an opportunity to learn the authentic Jewish teachings of these verses in great depth. However, this does not include the entire ‘NaKh since only selections related to the holiday are read. Still, it is a great start!

Another way is to systematically read through every book in ‘NaKh –  Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings) – following a regimen called a “Nach Yomi” (aka Daily ‘NaKh) such as Azamra’s Know Your Bible 1-year reading cycle or the Orthodox Union’s Torat Imecha Nach Yomi which is a 2-year reading cycle. Both organizations offer great resources, commentary and background information on each chapter from authentic Jewish tradition.

The best way is whichever pace best suits your schedule and learning-style. If you miss a holiday or a chunk of NaKh Yomi, they are structured so it’s easy to just jump right back in, mid-cycle. The idea, as Rebbe Nachman expressed, is to steadily learn and grow in your understanding of God’s Torah, throughout your lifetime.

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The chart below outlines the traditional Torah and ‘NaCH readings for the major Jewish holidays:

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FOOTNOTES:

[1] Hebrew Bible: Torah, Prophets and Writings. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hebrew-bible

[2] Dates are according to www.HebCal.com website: https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/2022-2023

[3] Referred to in the Bible as Yom Teruah (Day of Shofar Blowing). In liturgy, it is sometimes referred to as Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom Hadin (Day of Judgement). It is one of four biblical “new years” and kicks off the High Holiday period.
Read more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/rosh-hashanah-history-and-overview.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3791161/jewish/Rosh-Hashanah-Torah-Reading-Texts-and-Summaries.htm.
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/rosh-hashanah.

[4] Yom Kippur occurs 10 days after Rosh HaShanah as part of the High Holidays aka Days of Awe.
Read more at: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yom-kippur-history-and-overview.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/58806/jewish/Yom-Kippur.htm.
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/yom-kippur.

[5] Seven-day holiday begins a few days after Yom Kippur and one of the three annual Pilgrimage festivals.
Read more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/sukkot.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/137613/jewish/Sukkot.htm.
Holiday Reading Schedule: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/998459/jewish/Sukkot-Calendar.htm
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/sukkot.

[6] Psalms 113-118 is called The Hallel (which means “praise”) is a prayer of thanksgiving to God recited on certain Jewish Holidays. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hallel

[7] Shemini Atzeret (literally the “8th day” of Sukkot) and Simchat Torah celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. On Simchat Torah, the last Torah portion is read, completing the Annual Cycle, as well as first chapter of Genesis. 
Read more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/shemini-atzeret-and-simkhat-torah.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/137614/jewish/Shemini-Atzeret.htm
Holiday Reading Schedule: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1291505/jewish/Shemini-Atzeret-Simchat-Torah-Calendar.htm

[8] This is one of Chamesh Megillot a.k.a. The Five Scrolls which includes Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther.
Learn more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/scrolls-the-five

[9] Considered a minor holiday, Chanukah is the only non-biblical holiday. 
Read more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/hannukah.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/137616/jewish/Chanukah.htm
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/chanukah

[10] Purim is a post-biblical holiday established since 2nd century C.E. 
Learn more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/purim.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/137610/jewish/Purim.htm.
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/purim.

[11] Passover is a 7-day holiday for which there are Daily Torah readings plus Song of Songs is read on the first night.
Learn more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/passover-pesach.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/39991/jewish/Passover.htm.
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/passover.

[12] Shavuot occurs on the 50^th day after Pesach.
Learn more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/shavu-ot.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/aid/45169/jewish/Shavuot.htm.
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/shavuot

[13] The Three Weeks of national mourning by the Jewish People begins on 17 Tammuz through 9 Av. They mourn the twice destroyed of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Learn more at https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tisha-b-av.
Holiday Torah Reading: https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/4205126/jewish/Fast-Days.htm.
Holiday Guide: https://aish.com/tisha-bav.