Blessings for the Haftarah: Before and After the Prophetic Reading

The Haftarah is a selection from the Prophets (Nevi'im) read after the Torah reading on Shabbat, holidays, and fast days. The word 'Haftarah' means 'conclusion' or 'dismissal.' The Haftarah portion usually has a thematic connection to the Torah reading of the week. This tradition dates back at least 2,000 years, possibly originating when public Torah reading was forbidden.

Before reading the Haftarah, one blessing is recited: 'Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who chose good prophets and desired their words which were spoken in truth. Blessed are You, Lord, who chose the Torah, Moses His servant, Israel His people, and prophets of truth and righteousness.' This blessing acknowledges the divine origin of prophetic teachings.

After the Haftarah, four blessings are recited: 1) Praising God for His faithfulness and the truth of His words. 2) Asking for mercy on Zion and Jerusalem. 3) Asking for the coming of Elijah and the Davidic monarchy. 4) Thanking God for the sanctity of Shabbat (on Shabbat) or the holiday (on festivals). On Shabbat that falls on a holiday, both are mentioned in the final blessing.

The Haftarah is read by the person called up for 'Maftir' - the final Torah aliyah. The Maftir reads a short portion (usually a repetition of the last verses of the parsha), then chants the Haftarah with its blessings. A minor may read the Haftarah according to many customs. The Haftarah is traditionally chanted using a special cantillation (trope) different from the Torah's.

Certain Shabbatot have special Haftarot that supersede the regular one: the 'Three of Affliction' before Tisha B'Av, the 'Seven of Consolation' after Tisha B'Av, and special Haftarot for holidays and occasions like Shabbat HaGadol, Shabbat Shuva, and Shabbat Chanukah. When two or more occasions coincide, there are rules about which Haftarah takes precedence.

For bar/bat mitzvah preparation, learning the Haftarah is often a central focus. This includes learning the text, the trope (cantillation), and the blessings. Many recordings and resources are available to help learn the unique melody. The Am Hazak app includes the Haftarah texts and blessings to help with preparation and following along during services.