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Q&A When (if ever) can you read a non-standard haftarah, and how far afield can it go?

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. ...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Monica Cellio‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Monica Cellio‭

Question haftarah
#2: Post edited by user avatar Monica Cellio‭ · 2020-07-08T13:20:00Z (over 3 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 user avatar Monica Cellio‭ · 2020-07-08T01:17:21Z (over 3 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?