Each week, all over the world, a portion of the Torah — Judaism’s foundational text — is read publicly in synagogues according to a yearly cycle. To standardize that practice, the Torah is divided into 54 portions. This weekly calendar serves as a foundational structure for Jewish learning. Not only is the weekly Torah portion (parashat hashavuah in Hebrew or, simply, the parashah) chanted during communal prayer services, but it’s also the subject of much individual and group study. In this way, weekly study of the parashah might even be considered the world’s oldest and largest book club!

But what does it mean to learn the parashah? On the simplest level, studying the weekly portion involves reading the Torah text in any language, noticing what seems interesting, asking questions, and looking for answers.

If that seems like a lot, don’t worry. There is no end point to learning Torah — after all, we read it over and over again every year! Whether you’re a first-time learner or you’ve been doing this for years, there will always be new ideas to discover, more questions to ask, and different approaches to take.

Below we’ll discuss how to start studying the parashah and go over some of the ways you can build it into a weekly practice.

To start learning the weekly Torah portion, you don’t need anything but the text itself. While the Torah is traditionally read from a handwritten scroll in synagogue, everyday study typically utilizes a printed book (chumash) or digital edition of the text. You can find print copies in many bookstores and libraries, or you can use the Sefaria library to access the text online for free.

Now the question is: How do you know which Torah portion to study on a given week? There are two easy ways to find the weekly parashah right here on Sefaria:

1. Locate the Learning Schedules section on the right-hand side of the Sefaria homepage, or on the home screen of the Sefaria app. This section displays the Torah portion for that week. (The span for a weekly portion is Sunday through Saturday.)

2. Bookmark sefaria.org/parashat-hashavua, which automatically directs you to the weekly text.

Once you’ve located the weekly portion, you’re ready to start reading! But before you jump right in, you might enjoy reading a short summary of the parashah for context. On Sefaria we have a dedicated page for each Torah portion that begins with a short summary. To locate these pages, type the name of the parashah into the search bar and select the option beginning with a hashtag (#).

While the Torah is originally written (and traditionally chanted) in biblical Hebrew, it has been translated into numerous languages over the years. Some people who know how to read Hebrew may choose to study the parashah in its original language, but there are people of all language backgrounds and proficiencies who utilize translations to comfortably access and understand the text.

In the Sefaria library, we offer several English translations, as well as translations in other languages including French, German, Yiddish, and more. When you’re ready, check out these step-by-step instructions for choosing your preferred translations on Sefaria. And we also have a selection of reference tools available to help you work with the original Hebrew text.

Now it’s finally time to read the parashah in your preferred language, one sentence at a time. Some Torah portions can be long, so don’t worry about reading the whole thing. (In fact, many lessons or talks about the weekly portion focus on a single sentence or word!) On the other hand, some portions are so thought-provoking that you might even want to read them through a few times. Start reading and see where it takes you.

As you read, notice where your attention goes. What surprises you? Do any ideas, verses, or even words jump out at you? What questions come up? Any of these things can become your springboard for deeper exploration.

The beauty of reading a text that’s been studied yearly by millions of people is that there are tons of interpretations out there for you to explore. Here are a few places to start.

1. Pick a verse that stood out to you and see what other people have said about it.

Sefaria’s linker tool allows you to view articles from around the web that cite this exact verse. Just tap on the verse to open the resource panel, then select ‘Web Pages.’ You’ll see over 50 websites listed, including My Jewish Learning, Tablet Magazine, Times of Israel blogs, and so many more — each with articles that quote, explain, or interpret the text you just read. As you’re reading, ask yourself questions that came up for you in the parashah, or that arise from the perspectives in the article.

For thousands of years, commentators have explored and explained the verses of the Torah. Turning to these commentaries is a common approach among Torah learners for finding meaning and comparing interpretations.

Commentaries provide explanations or interpretations on specific words or passages of text, and they may be published as independent volumes or side-by-side with the text on which they’re commenting.

Our digital library includes more than 60 Torah commentaries in Hebrew or translation, including some of the most well-known and oft-cited in the Jewish canon:

To view commentaries on Sefaria, tap on any passage of text to open the resource panel and select ‘Commentary.’ You’ll find a list of available commentaries organized by author — and if a box with the letters ‘EN’ appears next to a commentator’s name, that means it’s available in English translation.

Think back to what stood out to you while reading the parashah. Were there any concepts or rituals that piqued your interest?

Whether it’s an unfamiliar term, a major plot point, or an intriguing topic that didn’t get much air time, digging into the Torah portion thematically is a great way to explore in a way that’s meaningful to you. And, when you follow the trail of a particular concept, it may lead you outside the confines of that specific parashah and help you make connections throughout the broader text.

On Sefaria, you can easily explore themes of the Torah portion using topic pages. Covering everything from justice to covenants to cats, our topic pages aggregate sources from across the library thematically. To find topic pages relevant to the parashah you’re reading:

Looking for even more options? The internet is full of articles, essays, and talks about each weekly parashah. If you’re looking for broad inspiration, search the name of the Torah portion and see what comes up. You might add search terms like “commentary” or “d’var Torah” (a Hebrew term referring to someone’s Torah talk) to hone in on other people’s interpretations of the portion. If there was a certain idea or section of the parashah that interested you, consider adding those relevant keywords or verse numbers to your search query.

There are countless ways to interact with the weekly Torah portion, on and off the page. Below we’ll offer some ideas, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to get creative and look for ways of exploring the parashah that resonate with you.

Learning Jewish texts in pairs is an age-old practice called a chavruta. This study model encourages learners to pose questions, discuss, and consider perspectives they might not have thought of on their own. Plus, studying with a partner can help to create structure and accountability — and in today’s tech-enabled world, you can have a chavruta with someone just about anywhere in the world! When studying in pairs, you can try taking turns reading out loud, pointing out interesting aspects of the text, or asking each other questions.

Make the weekly Torah portion a group activity! Take turns reading verses of the text, ask each other discussion questions, or bring a d’var Torah from a website or e-newsletter to read aloud. For ideas on exploring the weekly Torah reading with kids, check out Devash, Hadar’s family-friendly parashah magazine.

Studying the weekly Torah portion doesn’t have to just be about reading the text. Having an outlet to express what you’ve learned or ideas that came up in the process can be a helpful way to retain and connect with the parashah. For examples of Torah-based art and creative prompts, check out this collection from the Jewish Studio Project. Or get inspired by one Sefaria user’s weekly Torah sketch-noting practice.

Don’t have time for dedicated Torah study, or want to explore more perspectives while multi-tasking? Try listening to a podcast! There are plenty of podcasts out there dedicated to the weekly parashah, representing many different formats, personalities, and religious perspectives. Listen on a walk, while cooking Shabbat dinner, or during your morning commute.

As you can see, there are many ways to approach studying the weekly parsahah. Some may work better for your learning style or lifestyle than others — or maybe you want to try them all! But remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Every yearly Torah cycle provides new opportunities to learn new things, and in new ways.

The Sefaria library is here to help you, wherever you are in your learning journey. Get more information about how to use Sefaria and answers to commonly asked questions by visiting our Help Center.