Readings
In traditional Sabbath Torah reading, the parshah is divided into seven readings, or עליות, aliyot. In the Masoretic Text of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Parshah Vayeira has four "open portion" (פתוחה, petuchah) divisions (roughly equivalent to paragraphs, often abbreviated with the Hebrew letter פ (peh), roughly equivalent to the English letter “P”). Parshah Vayeira has two further subdivisions, called "closed portion" (סתומה, setumah) divisions (abbreviated with the Hebrew letter ס (samekh), roughly equivalent to the English letter "S") within the first open portion (פתוחה, petuchah). The first open portion (פתוחה, petuchah) spans the first five readings (עליות, aliyot). The second open portion (פתוחה, petuchah) coincides with the sixth reading (עליה, aliyah). The third open portion (פתוחה, petuchah) covers the binding of Isaac, which is most of the seventh reading (עליה, aliyah), excluding only the concluding maftir (מפטיר) reading. And the fourth open portion (פתוחה, petuchah) coincides with the concluding maftir (מפטיר) reading. Closed portion (סתומה, setumah) divisions further divide the long fourth reading (עליה, aliyah).
Read more about this topic: Vayeira
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