Origins and history of the practice Torah reading

an alternative triennial cycle of torah readings existed @ time, system whereby each week portion read approximately third of current. according jewish encyclopedia, triennial cycle practice in palestine, whereas in babylonia entire pentateuch read in synagogue in course of single year. late 1170 benjamin of tudela mentioned egyptian congregations took 3 years read torah.

joseph jacobs, in jewish encyclopedia article mentioned, notes transition triennial annual reading of law , transference of beginning of cycle month of tishri attributed sándor büchler influence of abba arika, known rab, or rav, (175–247 ce), jewish talmudist lived in babylonia, , established @ sura systematic study of rabbinic traditions, which, using mishnah text, led compilation of talmud:

this may have been due smallness of sedarim under old system, , fact people reminded of chief festivals once in 3 years. arranged deut. xxviii. should fall before new year, , beginning of cycle should come after feast of tabernacles. arrangement has been retained karaites , modern congregations.

the current practice in orthodox synagogues follows annual/babylonian cycle. @ time of jewish encyclopedia s publication (1901–06), author noted there slight traces of triennial cycle in 4 special sabbaths , in of passages read upon festivals, sections of triennial cycle, , not of annual 1 .

in 19th , 20th centuries, conservative (as evidenced in etz hayim chumash) , reform, reconstructionist , renewal congregations have switched triennial cycle, first third of each parashah read 1 year, second third next year , final third in third year. must distinguished ancient practice, read each seder in serial order regardless of week of year, completing entire torah in 3 (or 3 , half) years in linear fashion.