The Mishnah on the Public Reading of Scripture

3:4. When the new moon of Adar falls on a Sabbath, we read [from the Torah] in the portion about shekels (Exodus 30:11–16).

When it falls during the week, we advance [this reading] to the previous [Sabbath, before the beginning of the new month,] and interrupt [the special readings for the month] for a week.

On the second [Sabbath of the month, we read] Remember (Deuteronomy 25:17–19); on the third, The red heifer (Numbers 19); on the fourth, This month shall be for you (Exodus 12:1–20). On the fifth, we return to the regular order of readings.

For all of these [occasions], we interrupt [the regular order of readings]: for Hanukkah, Purim, fast days, days of the watch, and Yom Kippur.

5. On Passover we read the section about the festivals in the Torah of the priests (Leviticus 23:4ff.); on Shavuot [atseret], Seven weeks (Deuteronomy 16:9ff.); on Rosh Hashanah, In the seventh month on the first day of the month (Leviticus 23:23ff.); on Yom Kippur, After the death of the two sons of Aaron (Leviticus 16:1ff.); on the first day of the Festival [Sukkot], we read the section about the festivals in Leviticus (Leviticus 23:33ff.); and on the remaining days of the Festival, about the festival offerings (Numbers 29:17ff.).

6. On Hanukkah, [we read] about [the gifts of] the chieftains [at the dedication of the wilderness tabernacle] (Numbers 7:1ff.); on Purim, And Amalek came (Exodus 17:8ff.); on the new moons, And on the new moons (Numbers 28:11ff.); at the time of the watches, the story of creation (Genesis 1:1ff.); on fast days, the blessings and curses (Leviticus 26:3ff.; Deuteronomy 28).

We do not interrupt the reading of the curses; rather, one person reads all of them.

On Monday and Thursday [mornings] and Sabbath afternoons, we read according to the regular order; and these [readings] are not taken into account [in the readings for the regular Sabbaths]. As it is said: Moses proclaimed the festivals of Adonai to the Israelites (Leviticus 23:44)—[that is,] the requirement that they read [in the Torah] about each one at its proper time.

4:1. The one who reads the Megillah [on Purim] may stand or sit.

Whether one reads or two read, they have fulfilled their obligation.

In a locale where it is customary to recite a blessing, they bless; where it is not customary to recite a blessing, they do not bless.

On Monday and Thursday [mornings] and Sabbath afternoons, three people read [from the Torah]—no more and no less, and we do not conclude with [a reading from] the Prophets. The one who begins and the one who concludes the Torah [reading] recite a blessing before and after it [i.e., the first reader recites a blessing before reading and the last reader recites a blessing after reading].

2. On New Moons and on the intermediate days of the festivals, four people read—no more and no less, and we do not conclude with [a reading from] the Prophets.

The one who begins and the one who concludes the Torah [reading] recite a blessing before and after it.

This is the general rule: Any day on which there is an additional Prayer [Musaf, corresponding to the additional Temple sacrifice on that day,] but is not a festival day, four read.

On a festival, five; on Yom Kippur, six; on the Sabbath, seven—no less, but we may add more. And we conclude with [a reading from] the Prophets.

The one who begins and the one who concludes the Torah [reading] recite a blessing before and after it.