First steps in the Hebrew roots

The Torah is the first five books of the Bible — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy — given through Moses. The word torah (תּוֹרָה) does not mean "law" as a cold code: it comes from the root yarah, "to aim, to direct the arrow." It is instruction that points at the target.

Yeshua said: "Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). Studying it is not going backward: it is knowing the foundation on which everything else is written.

Start with Genesis 1 — and tap any verse number to see the Hebrew word by word.

Centuries ago, the Torah was divided into 54 portions — the parashot — to read it completely in one year, one portion each Shabbat. It is the world's oldest reading plan, and the one Yeshua himself followed: "he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read" (Luke 4:16).

In the Messianic cycle, each week you read the Torah portion, a Haftarah (Prophets) that complements it, and a Brit Hadashah (Renewed Covenant) passage showing the same truth fulfilled in Messiah.

See this week's parashah: full text, audio and reflection.

Every translation chooses. Where English says "beginning," the Hebrew says bereshit — carrying the root rosh (head) and echoes no translation can fully carry. You don't need to be a scholar: you need to be able to look at the original word when a verse stops you.

That is what the Fellowshipbook interlinear is for: every Hebrew word of the Torah with its transliteration, its meaning, and its grammar explained in plain language. Try Genesis 1:1: tap בְּרֵאשִׁית and see what appears.

Leviticus 23 calls the feasts "My appointed times" — not Israel's feasts, but the LORD's. They are seven annual appointments sketching the complete plan of redemption: the Passover Lamb, the Firstfruits of resurrection, the Spirit at Shavuot, the trumpet of Yom Teruah.

And they follow the original clock: the new moon sighted from Israel, not an office calculation. That is why there is one day no one can fix in advance — learn about it here.

Explore the feast calendar with this year's dates.

A simple plan to start today:

1. Open this week's parashah and listen to the audio while you read.
2. Pick one verse that stops you, and open it in the interlinear.
3. Read the Haftarah and the Brit Hadashah on the same page: watch the three texts tell a single story.
4. Arrive at Shabbat with the portion already read — and rest.

One portion per week. In a year you will have read the whole Torah with the people of Israel — with Messiah at the center.