What is the weekly parsha?
The parsha (פָּרָשָׁה), also called parashat hashavua ("the portion of the week"), is the weekly section of the Torah read in synagogues around the world. The Five Books of Moses are divided into 54 portions, read in order over the course of a year, so the whole Jewish world reads the same passage in the same week. Each portion is named after one of its first significant words — Bereishit, Noach, Lech-Lecha, and so on.
How does the yearly Torah cycle work?
- The Torah is split into 54 weekly portions; some weeks combine two portions so the calendar fits.
- The cycle restarts every year on Simchat Torah, when the final portion is read and the first is begun again immediately — the Torah is never "finished," only renewed.
- Reading the same parsha worldwide each week creates a shared conversation: the same themes are taught, discussed, and dvar-Torah'd everywhere at once.
Why learn the weekly parsha?
The parsha is the most accessible entry point in all of Jewish learning — narrative, characters, and big human themes rather than dense legal debate. It's a natural weekly habit: a portion to read, a question to sit with, and (especially) a Shabbat-table conversation to bring home. You don't need any background to start this week.
How do I find this week's parsha?
The current portion is tied to the Jewish calendar and changes each week. Rather than just naming it, Derekh prepares the week's parsha as an explained lesson — with discussion angles you can actually use — in a voice that fits you.
In short: the parsha is the weekly Torah portion — 54 sections read in order over a year, the same one worldwide each week. It's the friendliest on-ramp to Jewish learning.
Learn the parsha with Derekh Learning
Derekh prepares each week's Torah portion as a plain-English lesson and a Shabbat-table guide, with cited answers for your questions. Browse parsha learning or read how to follow the weekly Torah portion.
