The haftarah is a section from the Prophets that is read after the Torah reading on Shabbat, festivals, and fast days. The specified section always has some connection to the theme of the parshah or the time of year. It has a minimum of 21 verses on Shabbat, and at least 15 verses on festivals.1
Why Do We Read the Haftarah?
Many theories have been proposed for when the recitation of the haftarah began, including the commonly cited explanation that it was during the Greek oppression of the Jews in the period before the Maccabbean revolt when public Torah readings were outlawed.2 The sages of the time instituted the reading of a section of Prophets to remind the people of the weekly Torah portions they could no longer read.
The custom then persisted even after the repression ended and the public Torah readings were brought back.3
Whatever the reason, it is clear that the custom is ancient. Discussions about the proper sections to be read are found in the Mishnah, so the custom must date back at least to the 2nd century CE.4
How Is the Haftarah Read?
Typically, the person who will read the haftarah is called up to the Torah for a final reading of the last few lines of the weekly parshah. This final aliyah is called maftir. The Talmud tells us that this reading was instituted to show honor to the Torah, so that the reading of the haftarah is not seen as just a continuation of the weekly Torah reading.5
After that reading, the Torah is lifted for the hagbah. Once the Torah has been covered with its mantle, the haftarah is begun.6
The reader starts with a blessing thanking G‑d for granting us prophets and their holy words. The haftarah is then read from a book with a special tune.
The congregation should listen carefully to the reading, just as we must listen to the Torah reading.7
After the reading is completed, the reader receives an additional four blessings, affirming the truth of G‑d’s word, our faith in the future Redemption, and thanking G‑d for the Sabbath or holiday.
In total, the reader of the Shabbat haftarah recites seven blessings: one before the reading of the maftir, one after the reading of the maftir, one before the reading of the haftarah, and four after the reading of the haftarah. These seven blessings parallel the seven aliyot.8
On fast days, only three blessings are recited after the haftarah, for a total of six blessings.
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