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The haftara is recited only from the Prophets (Nevi'im), not even from the Writings (Ketuvim). This is the case as far back as the Mishna (Megilla 4:1-5). It wouldn't make sense to say the blessing...
Answer
#2: Post edited
by
user8078
·
2020-07-08T12:04:12Z (almost 4 years ago)
- The haftara is recited only from the Prophets (Nevi'im), not even from the Writings (Ketuvim). This is the case as far back as the Mishna (Megilla 4:1-5). It wouldn't make sense to say the blessing for the haftara, אשר בחר בנביאים טובים ("who chose good prophets"), before reciting any text other than the Prophets.
- Variation in the readings is acceptable, as, for instance, the ten haftarot for the weeks from the Shabbat before Tish'a Be'av are customarily replaced by haftarot of rebuke and consolation (the Rambam, The Order of Prayer 5:4 offers the original haftarot and their traditional replacements). But the replacements are still from the Prophets.
So reading from the Declaration of Independence is simply not a haftara, because it doesn't come from the Prophets. The question is, rather, whether a public reading from the Declaration of Independence can be inserted at that point in the prayers. The Talmud (Shabbat 116b) says that even reading from the Writings is prohibited (specifically at the time of study, as Rav's opinion which most or all rishonim follow) so as not to distract from the rabbi's lessons. According to this reason, I can't see any reason why it should be forbidden as *part* of the rabbi's speech, as it was in the case you mentioned (in some synagogues, the rabbi's speech is at that point, and the reading that you described does seem more like a rhetorical device than a haftara). However, another reason for the prohibition brought there in the name of Rabbi Nechemya is:- >מִפְּנֵי מָה אָמְרוּ כִּתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵין קוֹרִין בָּהֶן — כְּדֵי שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ: בְּכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵין קוֹרִין, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשִׁטְרֵי הֶדְיוֹטוֹת.‏
- > Why did they say that the holy writings may not be read? So that people will say: The holy scripture is not read, and certainly not secular documents!
- Accordingly, secular documents such as the Declaration of Independence should definitely not be read in public, since it defeats the purpose of the prohibition of reading the holy writings.
- Obviously, for a practical ruling, a competent authority should be consulted.
- The haftara is recited only from the Prophets (Nevi'im), not even from the Writings (Ketuvim). This is the case as far back as the Mishna (Megilla 4:1-5). It wouldn't make sense to say the blessing for the haftara, אשר בחר בנביאים טובים ("who chose good prophets"), before reciting any text other than the Prophets.
- Variation in the readings is acceptable, as, for instance, the ten haftarot for the weeks from the Shabbat before Tish'a Be'av are customarily replaced by haftarot of rebuke and consolation (the Rambam, The Order of Prayer 5:4 offers the original haftarot and their traditional replacements). But the replacements are still from the Prophets.
- So reading from the Declaration of Independence is simply not a haftara, because it doesn't come from the Prophets. The question is, rather, whether a public reading from the Declaration of Independence can be inserted at that point in the middle of the prayer service.
- One way to approach the question: The Talmud (Shabbat 116b) says that even reading from the Writings is prohibited (specifically at the time of study, as Rav's opinion which most or all rishonim follow) so as not to distract from the rabbi's lessons. According to this reason, I can't see any reason why it should be forbidden as *part* of the rabbi's speech, as it was in the case you mentioned (in some synagogues, the rabbi's speech is at that point, and the reading that you described does seem more like a rhetorical device than a haftara). However, another reason for the prohibition brought there in the name of Rabbi Nechemya is:
- >מִפְּנֵי מָה אָמְרוּ כִּתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵין קוֹרִין בָּהֶן — כְּדֵי שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ: בְּכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵין קוֹרִין, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשִׁטְרֵי הֶדְיוֹטוֹת.‏
- > Why did they say that the holy writings may not be read? So that people will say: The holy scripture is not read, and certainly not secular documents!
- Accordingly, secular documents such as the Declaration of Independence should definitely not be read in public, since it defeats the purpose of the prohibition of reading the holy writings.
- Obviously, for a practical ruling, a competent authority should be consulted.
#1: Initial revision
by
user8078
·
2020-07-08T12:00:05Z (almost 4 years ago)
The haftara is recited only from the Prophets (Nevi'im), not even from the Writings (Ketuvim). This is the case as far back as the Mishna (Megilla 4:1-5). It wouldn't make sense to say the blessing for the haftara, אשר בחר בנביאים טובים ("who chose good prophets"), before reciting any text other than the Prophets.
Variation in the readings is acceptable, as, for instance, the ten haftarot for the weeks from the Shabbat before Tish'a Be'av are customarily replaced by haftarot of rebuke and consolation (the Rambam, The Order of Prayer 5:4 offers the original haftarot and their traditional replacements). But the replacements are still from the Prophets.
So reading from the Declaration of Independence is simply not a haftara, because it doesn't come from the Prophets. The question is, rather, whether a public reading from the Declaration of Independence can be inserted at that point in the prayers. The Talmud (Shabbat 116b) says that even reading from the Writings is prohibited (specifically at the time of study, as Rav's opinion which most or all rishonim follow) so as not to distract from the rabbi's lessons. According to this reason, I can't see any reason why it should be forbidden as *part* of the rabbi's speech, as it was in the case you mentioned (in some synagogues, the rabbi's speech is at that point, and the reading that you described does seem more like a rhetorical device than a haftara). However, another reason for the prohibition brought there in the name of Rabbi Nechemya is:
>מִפְּנֵי מָה אָמְרוּ כִּתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵין קוֹרִין בָּהֶן — כְּדֵי שֶׁיֹּאמְרוּ: בְּכִתְבֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֵין קוֹרִין, וְכׇל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשִׁטְרֵי הֶדְיוֹטוֹת.‏
> Why did they say that the holy writings may not be read? So that people will say: The holy scripture is not read, and certainly not secular documents!
Accordingly, secular documents such as the Declaration of Independence should definitely not be read in public, since it defeats the purpose of the prohibition of reading the holy writings.
Obviously, for a practical ruling, a competent authority should be consulted.