Wyjścia 34:1 Halacha: Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing, Sheiltot d'Rav Achai Gaon & Tur

The regular sequence is interrupted for the three Festivals and for the Day of Atonement, when we read a section appertaining to the Festival and not the weekly portion of the Sabbath. Moses ordained that on each festival a section bearing upon it should be read. On every festival too, the discussion and discourse are on the topic of the day. What sections are read? On Passover, from the section concerning the festivals in the book of Leviticus (22:26-23:44). The people have however the custom of reading on the first day that beginning, "Draw out, and take unto yourselves lambs (Exodus 12:21-51); and the lesson from the Prophets is the account of the Passover at Gilgal (Joshua 5:2-15). On the second day, that beginning, "When a bullock or sheep" (Leviticus 22:26-23:44); and the lesson from the Prophets is the account of Josiah's Celebration of the Passover (II Kings 23:1-25). On the third day, that beginning, "Sanctify unto me all the first born" (Exodus 13:1-16). On the fourth day, that beginning, "If thou lend money" (Exodus 22:24-23:19). On the fifth day, that beginning, "Hew thee two tables of stone" (ibid. 34:1-26). On the sixth day, that beginning, "Let the children of Israel keep the Passover in its appointed season" (Numbers 9:1-14). On the seventh day, that beginning, "And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go" (Exodus 13:17-15:26) to the end of the Song, and up to the words "I am the Lord that healeth thee"; and the lesson from the Prophets is that beginning, "And David spoke" (II Samuel 22:1-51). On the eighth day, that beginning, "All the firstling males" (Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17); and the lesson from the Prophets is that beginning, "This very day" (Isaiah 10:32-12:6).

On the Ninth of Ab, the section read in the morning service is that beginning, "When thou shalt beget children" (Deuteronomy 4:25-40). The lesson from the Prophets is that beginning, "I will consume them" (Jeremiah 8:13-9:23). In the afternoon service, the sections beginning, "And Moses besought" (Exodus 32:11-14) and also (34:1-10) are read, as on the other fast-days and on those that are kept in commemoration of the calamities that befell our ancestors. These sections are read in the morning and afternoon services. The first person called up reads four verses from the section beginning, "And Moses besought." The second and third persons read from the section beginning, "Hew thee two tables of stone" till "That I am about to do with thee" (Exodus 34:1-10). On fast days appointed by the community because of existing calamities such as drought, pestilence or similar visitations, the Benedictions and Maledictions (Leviticus 26:3-46 or Deuteronomy 28:1-69) are read, so that the people, when they listen to them, may be moved to repent and their hearts be humbled.

As it is required for the house of Israel to read from the scrolls, and to teach in the Torah, and to conclude with the prophets, on each day according to its subject matter — laws of Pesaḥ on Pesaḥ, laws of Shavuot on Shavuot, laws of Sukkot on Sukkot, as it is written "And Moses spoke the appointed-times of haShem to the children of Israel" (Leviticus 23:44), and it is commanded to read every matter at its time and extrapolate on the subject of the day, as taught, "Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says:¹In our manuscripts, it says "The Rabbis taught" here. Moses ordained for Israel that they would investigate and extrapolate on the matter of the day — laws of Pesaḥ on Pesaḥ, laws of Shavuot on Shavuot, laws of Sukkot on Sukkot" (Megillah 32a:17). On Ḥanukkah we read the princes (Numbers 7). On Purim we read "And Amalek came" (Exodus 17:8—16). When Rosh Ḥodesh Adar falls on Shabbat we read the portion of the sheqalim (Exodus 30:11—16). "And Rabbi Yitzḥaq Nappaḥa said: when Rosh Ḥodesh Adar falls on Shabbat, bring three Torah scrolls, and read one for the matter of the day, and one for the new moon, and one from Ki Tissa. And Rabbi Yitzḥaq Nappaḥa said: when Rosh Ḥodesh Tevet falls on Shabbat, bring three Torah scrolls, and read one for the matter of the day, and one for Rosh Ḥodesh, and one for Ḥanukkah" (Megillah 29b:22). On Ḥanukkah and on Purim three people read, on Rosh Ḥodesh and on Ḥol ha-Moed four people read — since there is Musaf, we add [mosifin] a person. When Rosh Ḥodesh Adar falls on Shabbat, we read the portion of the sheqalim (Exodus 30:11—16). When it falls on another day of the week, we advance the reading of the portion of the sheqalim, and interrupt the special readings. On the second² Shabbat of the month we read 'Remember' (Deuteronomy 25:17—17). On the third, the red heifer (Numbers 19:1—22). On the fourth, 'This month' (Exodus 12:1—20). If it falls on the sixth, then 'This month' is on the fifth. After that they return to the regular order. And everyone interrupts the order for Rosh Hodesh, Ḥanukah, Purim, fast days, festival days, and Yom Kippur (Mishnah Megillah 3:5). On Pesaḥ they read the portion of the festivals. And a mnemonic is: "during the bull, sanctify with money, cut in the desert, send the firstborn." On Shavuot, "On the third day" (Exodus 19:1–20:23), and on the second day, "Every firstborn" (Deuteronomy 15:19—16:37). On Rosh Hashanah, "And haShem remembered Sarah" (Genesis 21:1–34) and on the second day, "And God tested Abraham" (Genesis 22:1—24). On Yom Kippur, "after the death" (Leviticus 16:1—34). On Sukkot, the offerings for Sukkot (Numbers 29:12—34). On Ḥanukkah, the princes (Numbers 7). On Purim, "And Amalek came" (Exodus 17:8—16). On Rosh Hodesh, "And on your new months" (Numbers 28:1–15). On the watches, the matter of creation (Genesis 1:1—2:3). On fast days, "And Moses petitioned" (Exodus 32:11—14, Exodus 34:1–10). On Mondays and Thursdays and on Shabbat in the afternoon they read according to the order, but they are not counted in the order. As it is said, "And Moses spoke the appointed-times of haShem to the children of Israel" (Leviticus 23:44) — it's commanded that they read each and every one at its time.