In Jewish tradition, parashah names the weekly Torah portion studied and read in synagogue, including for bar mitzvah preparation.
The Torah is divided into sequential weekly portions so that Jewish communities can complete its reading over an annual cycle. Each portion is called a parashah, or, in the plural, parashot. A bar or bat mitzvah celebrant often prepares the portion scheduled for the ceremony date, learning its Hebrew pronunciation, chant, and interpretation.
The exact passage assigned depends on the Hebrew calendar date and the synagogue’s reading cycle. Celebrants may read some or all of the Torah portion, and they may also chant the associated Haftarah from the Prophets. These are separate readings, even though both are central to many ceremonies.
Parashah is sometimes confused with the Haftarah or with a specific Torah book. A parashah is the weekly division; it can contain passages from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, or Deuteronomy.