The short answer
This week’s Torah portion is Noach (נֹחַ), Genesis 6:9–11:32, read on Shabbat, October 17, 2026. The haftarah is Isaiah 54:1–55:5. Congregations that read the Chayyei Yeshua cycle add Luke 1:26–38 from the Besora.
Noach
נֹחַ
| Shabbat | Saturday, October 17, 2026 6 Cheshvan 5787 |
| Torah | Genesis 6:9–11:32 |
| Haftarah | Isaiah 54:1–55:5 |
| Besora | Luke 1:26–38 |
Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday, so the portion is often studied through the week before it is read aloud on Saturday morning. Times for candle lighting depend on where you live. Our guide to what Shabbat is and when it starts explains how to find yours.
Dates, portion names and readings from Hebcal.com, CC-BY. Besora readings from the Chayyei Yeshua three-year cycle, compiled by Rabbi Mark S. Kinzer, Ph.D., and edited by Rabbi Jonathan Kaplan, Ph.D.
The weeks ahead
| Shabbat | Portion | Torah | Haftarah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24 | Lech-Lecha | Genesis 12:1–17:27 | Isaiah 40:27–41:16 |
| Oct 31 | Vayera | Genesis 18:1–22:24 | II Kings 4:1–37 |
| Nov 7 | Chayei Sara | Genesis 23:1–25:18 | I Kings 1:1–31 |
| Nov 14 | Toldot | Genesis 25:19–28:9 | Malachi 1:1–2:7 |
| Nov 21 | Vayetzei | Genesis 28:10–32:3 | Hosea 12:13–14:10 |
| Nov 28 | Vayishlach | Genesis 32:4–36:43 | Obadiah 1:1–21 |
What a parashah is
A parashah (also called a parsha or sidra) is one of the 54 sections the five books of Moses are divided into for reading in the synagogue. One is read each Shabbat, so the whole Torah is read through in a year. Each portion takes its name from one of its first words. Bereshit, the first, means “in the beginning.”
The cycle begins again each autumn after Simchat Torah, the festival day when the last verses of Deuteronomy and the first verses of Genesis are read one after the other. A Hebrew year has fewer Shabbatot than portions, so in some weeks two short portions are read together. When a festival falls on Shabbat, the festival’s own reading takes the place of the weekly portion.
Each Torah reading is paired with a haftarah, a passage from the Prophets chosen to echo it. On some Shabbatot, such as Shabbat Shekalim or Shabbat HaGadol before Passover, a special haftarah or an added reading marks the season. These are noted in the tables on this page.
Israel and the diaspora. Outside Israel, some festivals last a day longer. When the extra day falls on Shabbat, synagogues abroad read a festival portion while Israel moves on to the next weekly one. The two schedules then run a week apart until a doubled portion brings them back together. This page follows the diaspora schedule and notes the weeks when Israel reads something different.
A New Covenant reading
Yeshua grew up hearing these readings in the synagogue. In Nazareth he once stood on Shabbat to read from the scroll of Isaiah (Luke 4:16–21). Many Messianic congregations follow the Torah portion and add a reading from the New Covenant Scriptures, so the week’s study joins Moses, the Prophets and the life of Messiah.
One widely used plan is the Chayyei Yeshua three-year Besora cycle. Besora is Hebrew for good news, the gospel. The cycle pairs most portions with a passage from Matthew or Mark in its first year, Luke in its second and John in its third, with set readings for festivals and special Shabbatot. This year’s readings are listed below. Congregations choose their own readings, so yours may differ.
Every reading for 5787 (2026–27)
The Hebrew year 5787 runs from Rosh Hashanah in the autumn of 2026 to the end of the following summer. Dates are for Shabbat morning.
| Shabbat | Portion | Torah | Haftarah | Besora |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12 1 Tishrei | Rosh Hashana I | Genesis 21:1–34; Numbers 29:1–6 | I Samuel 1:1–2:10 | Romans 8:31–39 |
| Sep 19 8 Tishrei | Ha'azinu Shabbat Shuva | Deuteronomy 32:1–52 | Hosea 14:2–10; Joel 2:15–27 | Luke 15:11–32 |
| Sep 26 15 Tishrei | Sukkot I | Leviticus 22:26–23:44; Numbers 29:12–16 | Zechariah 14:1–21 | Revelation 7:9–17 |
| Oct 3 22 Tishrei | Shmini Atzeret In Israel: Simchat Torah | Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17; Numbers 29:35–30:1 | I Kings 8:54–66 | Romans 11:25–36 |
| Oct 10 29 Tishrei | Bereshit Shabbat Machar Chodesh | Genesis 1:1–6:8 | I Samuel 20:18–42 | John 1:1–18 |
| Oct 17 6 Cheshvan | Noach | Genesis 6:9–11:32 | Isaiah 54:1–55:5 | Luke 1:26–38 |
| Oct 24 13 Cheshvan | Lech-Lecha | Genesis 12:1–17:27 | Isaiah 40:27–41:16 | Luke 2:1–20 |
| Oct 31 20 Cheshvan | Vayera | Genesis 18:1–22:24 | II Kings 4:1–37 | Luke 2:21–40 |
| Nov 7 27 Cheshvan | Chayei Sara | Genesis 23:1–25:18 | I Kings 1:1–31 | Luke 3:1–17 |
| Nov 14 4 Kislev | Toldot | Genesis 25:19–28:9 | Malachi 1:1–2:7 | Luke 3:18–38 |
| Nov 21 11 Kislev | Vayetzei | Genesis 28:10–32:3 | Hosea 12:13–14:10 | Luke 4:1–15 |
| Nov 28 18 Kislev | Vayishlach | Genesis 32:4–36:43 | Obadiah 1:1–21 | Luke 4:16–30 |
| Dec 5 25 Kislev | Vayeshev Shabbat Chanukah | Genesis 37:1–40:23; Numbers 7:1–17 | Zechariah 2:14–4:7 | John 10:22–42 |
| Dec 12 2 Tevet | Miketz Shabbat Chanukah | Genesis 41:1–44:17; Numbers 7:54–8:4 | I Kings 7:40–50 | Luke 5:1–11 |
| Dec 19 9 Tevet | Vayigash | Genesis 44:18–47:27 | Ezekiel 37:15–28 | Colossians 1:15–20 |
| Dec 26 16 Tevet | Vayechi | Genesis 47:28–50:26 | I Kings 2:1–12 | Luke 5:27–39 |
| Jan 2 23 Tevet | Shemot | Exodus 1:1–6:1 | Isaiah 27:6–28:13, 29:22–23 | Luke 6:1–16 |
| Jan 9 1 Sh'vat | Vaera Shabbat Rosh Chodesh | Exodus 6:2–9:35; Numbers 28:9–15 | Isaiah 66:1–24 | Luke 6:17–38 |
| Jan 16 8 Sh'vat | Bo | Exodus 10:1–13:16 | Jeremiah 46:13–28 | Luke 7:1–17 |
| Jan 23 15 Sh'vat | Beshalach | Exodus 13:17–17:16 | Judges 4:4–5:31 | Luke 7:18–35 |
| Jan 30 22 Sh'vat | Yitro | Exodus 18:1–20:23 | Isaiah 6:1–7:6, 9:5–6 | Luke 7:36–50 |
| Feb 6 29 Sh'vat | Mishpatim Shabbat Machar Chodesh | Exodus 21:1–24:18 | I Samuel 20:18–42 | Luke 8:1–21 |
| Feb 13 6 Adar I | Terumah | Exodus 25:1–27:19 | I Kings 5:26–6:13 | Luke 8:22–39 |
| Feb 20 13 Adar I | Tetzaveh | Exodus 27:20–30:10 | Ezekiel 43:10–27 | Luke 8:40–56 |
| Feb 27 20 Adar I | Ki Tisa | Exodus 30:11–34:35 | I Kings 18:1–39 | Luke 9:1–17 |
| Mar 6 27 Adar I | Vayakhel Shabbat Shekalim | Exodus 35:1–38:20, 30:11–16 | II Kings 12:1–17 | Mark 12:41–44 |
| Mar 13 4 Adar II | Pekudei | Exodus 38:21–40:38 | I Kings 7:51–8:21 | Luke 9:28–36 |
| Mar 20 11 Adar II | Vayikra Shabbat Zachor | Leviticus 1:1–5:26; Deuteronomy 25:17–19 | I Samuel 15:2–34 | Revelation 6:9–7:8 |
| Mar 27 18 Adar II | Tzav Shabbat Parah | Leviticus 6:1–8:36; Numbers 19:1–22 | Ezekiel 36:16–38 | Hebrews 9:11–14 |
| Apr 3 25 Adar II | Shmini Shabbat HaChodesh | Leviticus 9:1–11:47; Exodus 12:1–20 | Ezekiel 45:16–46:18 | 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 |
| Apr 10 3 Nisan | Tazria | Leviticus 12:1–13:59 | II Kings 4:42–5:19 | Luke 13:1–9 |
| Apr 17 10 Nisan | Metzora Shabbat HaGadol | Leviticus 14:1–15:33 | Malachi 3:4–24 | Luke 1:5–22 |
| Apr 24 17 Nisan | Pesach Shabbat Chol ha-Moed | Exodus 33:12–34:26; Numbers 28:19–25 | Ezekiel 37:1–14 | Varies |
| May 1 24 Nisan | Achrei Mot | Leviticus 16:1–18:30 | Amos 9:7–15 | Luke 14:1–11 |
| May 8 1 Iyyar | Kedoshim Shabbat Rosh Chodesh | Leviticus 19:1–20:27; Numbers 28:9–15 | Isaiah 66:1–24 | Luke 14:12–24 |
| May 15 8 Iyyar | Emor | Leviticus 21:1–24:23 | Ezekiel 44:15–31 | Luke 14:25–33 |
| May 22 15 Iyyar | Behar | Leviticus 25:1–26:2 | Jeremiah 32:6–27 | Luke 16:1–9 |
| May 29 22 Iyyar | Bechukotai | Leviticus 26:3–27:34 | Jeremiah 16:19–17:14 | Luke 16:10–17 |
| Jun 5 29 Iyyar | Bamidbar Shabbat Machar Chodesh | Numbers 1:1–4:20 | I Samuel 20:18–42 | Luke 16:19–31 |
| Jun 12 7 Sivan | Shavuot II In Israel: Nasso | Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17; Numbers 28:26–31 | Habakkuk 3:1–19 | John 15:26–27; 16:12–15 |
| Jun 19 14 Sivan | Nasso In Israel: Beha'alotcha | Numbers 4:21–7:89 | Judges 13:2–25 | Luke 18:1–17 |
| Jun 26 21 Sivan | Beha'alotcha In Israel: Sh'lach | Numbers 8:1–12:16 | Zechariah 2:14–4:7 | Luke 18:31–43 |
| Jul 3 28 Sivan | Sh'lach In Israel: Korach | Numbers 13:1–15:41 | Joshua 2:1–24 | Luke 19:1–28 |
| Jul 10 5 Tamuz | Korach In Israel: Chukat | Numbers 16:1–18:32 | I Samuel 11:14–12:22 | Luke 19:29–48 |
| Jul 17 12 Tamuz | Chukat-Balak In Israel: Balak | Numbers 19:1–25:9 | Micah 5:6–6:8 | Luke 20:1–18 |
| Jul 24 19 Tamuz | Pinchas | Numbers 25:10–30:1 | Jeremiah 1:1–2:3 | Luke 23:26–32 |
| Jul 31 26 Tamuz | Matot-Masei | Numbers 30:2–36:13 | Jeremiah 2:4–28, 3:4 | Luke 23:33–43 |
| Aug 7 4 Av | Devarim | Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22 | Isaiah 1:1–27 | Luke 23:44–56 |
| Aug 14 11 Av | Vaetchanan | Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11 | Isaiah 40:1–26 | Luke 24:1–11 |
| Aug 21 18 Av | Eikev | Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25 | Isaiah 49:14–51:3 | Luke 24:13–32 |
| Aug 28 25 Av | Re'eh | Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17 | Isaiah 54:11–55:5 | Luke 24:33–49 |
| Sep 4 2 Elul | Shoftim | Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9 | Isaiah 51:12–52:12 | John 20:19–29 |
| Sep 11 9 Elul | Ki Teitzei | Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19 | Isaiah 54:1–10 | John 21:1–25 |
| Sep 18 16 Elul | Ki Tavo | Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8 | Isaiah 60:1–22 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 |
| Sep 25 23 Elul | Nitzavim-Vayeilech | Deuteronomy 29:9–31:30 | Isaiah 61:10–63:9 | Matthew 28:16–20 |
Where the Besora column says “Varies,” the cycle sets festival readings for Pesach whose placement depends on how the festival falls, so check with your congregation. To hear the portion read and taught, find a Messianic congregation near you.
Dates, portion names and readings from Hebcal.com, CC-BY. Besora readings from the Chayyei Yeshua three-year cycle, compiled by Rabbi Mark S. Kinzer, Ph.D., and edited by Rabbi Jonathan Kaplan, Ph.D.
Common questions
What is a Torah portion?
A Torah portion, or parashah, is one of 54 sections of the five books of Moses. One portion is read in the synagogue each Shabbat, so the whole Torah is read through in a year, starting again after Simchat Torah in the autumn.
Why are two portions sometimes read on the same Shabbat?
A year has fewer available Shabbatot than there are portions, especially when festivals fall on Shabbat. To finish the Torah on time, seven pairs of shorter portions can be read together, such as Vayakhel-Pekudei and Matot-Masei.
Why is the Torah portion different in Israel?
Outside Israel some festivals add an extra day. When that day falls on Shabbat, diaspora synagogues read a festival portion while Israel reads the next weekly portion, and the two schedules run a week apart until they line up again.
What is the haftarah?
The haftarah is a reading from the Prophets that follows the Torah portion on Shabbat and festivals. Each one is chosen to echo the Torah reading or the season. In Luke 4:16-21, Yeshua reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth on Shabbat.
Do Messianic congregations read the weekly Torah portion?
Most do. Many read from a Torah scroll on Shabbat morning, and many pair the portion with a reading from the New Covenant Scriptures, such as the Chayyei Yeshua three-year Besora cycle.