Parashat Tetzaveh (תצוה)

Tetzaveh covers the pure olive oil for the Menorah, the priestly garments of Aaron and his sons, and the inauguration offerings.

Torah reading: Exodus 27:20–30:10

Upcoming Reading Dates

ShabbatHebrew Date
Saturday, February 20, 202713 Adar, 5787
Saturday, March 11, 202813 Adar, 5788
Saturday, February 24, 20299 Adar, 5789
Saturday, February 16, 203013 Adar, 5790

About the Weekly Torah Reading

The Torah is divided into 54 portions (parshiyot) read publicly in synagogue on Shabbat, completing the entire Five Books of Moses every year. The annual cycle restarts on Simchat Torah, when the final portion, Vezot HaBerachah, is read and Parashat Bereshis begins immediately.

Because the Hebrew calendar varies in length from 50 to 55 weeks, some portions are read separately in longer years and combined in shorter years — for example Parashat Matos and Parashat Masei, or Parashat Nitzavim and Parashat Vayeilech. The dates above are calculated algorithmically from the Hebrew calendar using the PhpZmanim library.

See this week's Torah portion or browse the full upcoming schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Parashat Tetzaveh read?

Parashat Tetzaveh is read on Shabbat as part of the annual cycle of Torah readings. Its upcoming dates are listed in the table above — calculated from the Hebrew calendar, which determines how the 54 portions align with the Jewish year.

Where is Parashat Tetzaveh in the Torah?

Parashat Tetzaveh appears in the book of Exodus (Exodus 27:20–30:10). Each of the Five Books of Moses is divided into 54 weekly portions read over the course of the year.

Why is Parashat Tetzaveh sometimes read together with another portion?

In years that do not require an extra Shabbat — shorter Hebrew years, or years without a Shabbat falling inside a festival — two adjacent portions are combined into a single reading. In longer years they are read on separate weeks.

What is Parashat Tetzaveh about?

Tetzaveh covers the pure olive oil for the Menorah, the priestly garments of Aaron and his sons, and the inauguration offerings.