Welcome to the Judaism community on Codidact!
Will you help us build our community of learners? Drop into our study hall, ask questions, help others with answers to their questions, share a d'var torah if you're so inclined, invite your friends, and join us in building this community together. Not an ask-the-rabbi service, just people at all levels learning together.
Post History
Years ago, in a year when US Independence Day fell on Shabbat, I was away at a kallah, a week-long retreat for people from many communities with study, social activities, and, of course, davening. ...
Question
haftarah
#2: Post edited
by
Monica Cellio
·
2020-07-08T13:20:00Z (over 4 years ago)
explained "kallah" (requested in comment)
Years ago, in a year when US Independence Day fell on Shabbat, I was away at a *kallah*. During the torah service, the people leading the service said that in honor of "yom tov" they were going to do a special *haftarah* -- and proceeded to chant parts of the Declaration of Independence in *haftarah* trope. This was tied to a *d'var torah* about the limitations on kings in torah (comparing the two lists), so it was actually connected to torah in the end. At the time I was amused and struck by the relevance, but I later wondered about the *halachic* issues involved. (This was not a completely-*halachic* gathering.)- There are special *haftarot* throughout the year for days, seasons, even the day before Rosh Chodesh. Replacing the regular weekly reading with another is well-established practice. And the institution of *haftarot* was, if I understand correctly, as a proxy for torah readings that were at the time banned by hostile governments, and then even when the bans no longer applied the tradition continued. I don't know if, today, they have a lesser degree of obligation than the torah reading, the same obligation, or, strictly speaking, are optional.
- When, if ever, is a "new" *haftarah* reading acceptable?
- - Only if it is *additive* -- you read the *haftarah* you should read, and anything else you do isn't really a *haftarah* reading but, sure, feel free to read stuff? (Presumably this would be without blessings.)
- - Only if it is from *Tanakh*? Other writings or prophets are fine, but secular documents aren't?
- - Only if it is not done with *trop*, which could mislead people? (In this case it was *English*, but it might not always be.)
- - Never -- *haftarah* is for the assigned portion, not other stuff, period?
- - Something else?
- Years ago, in a year when US Independence Day fell on Shabbat, I was away at a *kallah*, a week-long retreat for people from many communities with study, social activities, and, of course, *davening*. During the torah service on that Shabbat, the people leading the service said that in honor of "yom tov" they were going to do a special *haftarah* -- and proceeded to chant parts of the Declaration of Independence in *haftarah* trope. This was tied to a *d'var torah* about the limitations on kings in torah (comparing the two lists), so it was actually connected to torah in the end. At the time I was amused and struck by the relevance, but I later wondered about the *halachic* issues involved. (This was not a completely-*halachic* gathering.)
- There are special *haftarot* throughout the year for days, seasons, even the day before Rosh Chodesh. Replacing the regular weekly reading with another is well-established practice. And the institution of *haftarot* was, if I understand correctly, as a proxy for torah readings that were at the time banned by hostile governments, and then even when the bans no longer applied the tradition continued. I don't know if, today, they have a lesser degree of obligation than the torah reading, the same obligation, or, strictly speaking, are optional.
- When, if ever, is a "new" *haftarah* reading acceptable?
- - Only if it is *additive* -- you read the *haftarah* you should read, and anything else you do isn't really a *haftarah* reading but, sure, feel free to read stuff? (Presumably this would be without blessings.)
- - Only if it is from *Tanakh*? Other writings or prophets are fine, but secular documents aren't?
- - Only if it is not done with *trop*, which could mislead people? (In this case it was *English*, but it might not always be.)
- - Never -- *haftarah* is for the assigned portion, not other stuff, period?
- - Something else?
#1: Initial revision
by
Monica Cellio
·
2020-07-08T01:17:21Z (over 4 years ago)
Years ago, in a year when US Independence Day fell on Shabbat, I was away at a *kallah*. During the torah service, the people leading the service said that in honor of "yom tov" they were going to do a special *haftarah* -- and proceeded to chant parts of the Declaration of Independence in *haftarah* trope. This was tied to a *d'var torah* about the limitations on kings in torah (comparing the two lists), so it was actually connected to torah in the end. At the time I was amused and struck by the relevance, but I later wondered about the *halachic* issues involved. (This was not a completely-*halachic* gathering.) There are special *haftarot* throughout the year for days, seasons, even the day before Rosh Chodesh. Replacing the regular weekly reading with another is well-established practice. And the institution of *haftarot* was, if I understand correctly, as a proxy for torah readings that were at the time banned by hostile governments, and then even when the bans no longer applied the tradition continued. I don't know if, today, they have a lesser degree of obligation than the torah reading, the same obligation, or, strictly speaking, are optional. When, if ever, is a "new" *haftarah* reading acceptable? - Only if it is *additive* -- you read the *haftarah* you should read, and anything else you do isn't really a *haftarah* reading but, sure, feel free to read stuff? (Presumably this would be without blessings.) - Only if it is from *Tanakh*? Other writings or prophets are fine, but secular documents aren't? - Only if it is not done with *trop*, which could mislead people? (In this case it was *English*, but it might not always be.) - Never -- *haftarah* is for the assigned portion, not other stuff, period? - Something else?