Practice Parashat Vaera with TropeTrainer
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Parashat Vaera - פָּרָשַׁת וָאֵרָא
Vaera (“I Appeared”) opens as God promises to redeem the enslaved Israelites and bring them to the Promised Land. When Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to let the Israelites go, God sends a series of plagues: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, death of livestock, boils, and hail.
Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35
Parashat Vaera is the 14th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on January 9th, 2027 / 1 Sh'vat 5787
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
6:2 - 6:13· 12 p’sukim
2:
6:14 - 6:28· 15 p’sukim
3:
6:29 - 7:7· 9 p’sukim
4:
7:8 - 8:6· 28 p’sukim
5:
8:7 - 8:18· 12 p’sukim
6:
8:19 - 9:16· 26 p’sukim
7:
9:17 - 9:35· 19 p’sukim
Maftir:
9:33 - 9:35· 3 p’sukim
Haftarah:
Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21· 23 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 1
January 17th, 2026
1:
6:2 - 6:5· 4 p’sukim
2:
6:6 - 6:9· 4 p’sukim
3:
6:10 - 6:13· 4 p’sukim
4:
6:14 - 6:19· 6 p’sukim
5:
6:20 - 6:25· 6 p’sukim
6:
6:26 - 6:28· 3 p’sukim
7:
6:29 - 7:7· 9 p’sukim
Maftir:
7:5 - 7:7· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 1:
Jeremiah 1:1 - 1:10· 10 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah Part 2:
Jeremiah 1:8 - 1:8· 1 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 2
January 9th, 2027
1:
7:8 - 7:13· 6 p’sukim
2:
7:14 - 7:18· 5 p’sukim
3:
7:19 - 7:25· 7 p’sukim
4:
7:26 - 7:29· 4 p’sukim
5:
8:1 - 8:6· 6 p’sukim
6:
8:7 - 8:11· 5 p’sukim
7:
8:12 - 8:15· 4 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 3
January 29th, 2028
1:
8:16 - 8:23· 8 p’sukim
2:
8:24 - 8:28· 5 p’sukim
3:
9:1 - 9:7· 7 p’sukim
4:
9:8 - 9:16· 9 p’sukim
5:
9:17 - 9:21· 5 p’sukim
6:
9:22 - 9:26· 5 p’sukim
7:
9:27 - 9:35· 9 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Vaera
Beyond the plagues themselves, Vaera (Exodus 6:2-9:35) is fundamentally about God's self-revelation and covenant faithfulness. It opens with God making Himself known to Moses by the divine name YHVH, in contrast to the patriarchs, who knew Him as El Shaddai (Exodus 6:3). The portion frames the Exodus around the "four expressions of redemption" (Exodus 6:6-7): "I will bring you out," "I will deliver you," "I will redeem you," and "I will take you to Me for a people." It also wrestles with Moses's self-doubt and "uncircumcised lips," the theological problem of the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and divine judgments (shefatim) against Egypt. A recurring refrain ties the plagues to a purpose larger than punishment: "that you shall know that I am the LORD."
The Haftarah
The Haftarah for Vaera is Ezekiel 28:25-29:21, read in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities; the sources consulted show no divergence in the verse range between rites. The thematic link is direct: just as Moses is sent to confront Pharaoh, Ezekiel prophesies judgment against Egypt, portraying Pharaoh as "the great dragon" (tannin) lying in the Nile who arrogantly boasts, "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself" (Ezekiel 29:3). This mirrors Vaera's defiant Pharaoh humbled by divine power and echoes the first plague, the Nile turned to blood. Both texts share the refrain that Egypt and Israel "shall know that I am the LORD," and both close with the promise of Israel's redemption. Note that when Vaera coincides with Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, a special Rosh Chodesh haftarah is read instead.
Notable passages and verses
Vaera is the source of several well-known passages. Exodus 6:6-7's "four expressions of redemption" are traditionally cited as the basis for the four cups of wine at the Passover seder. Exodus 6:3, where God declares He appeared to the patriarchs as El Shaddai but was not known to them by the name YHVH, is a theologically pivotal verse. And in Exodus 8:15, Pharaoh's own magicians concede before the plague of lice, "This is the finger of God." Vaera is the 14th weekly Torah portion and the second in the Book of Exodus, comprising 121 verses, and it narrates the first seven of the ten plagues: blood, frogs, lice, wild animals/swarms, pestilence of livestock, boils, and hail.
Frequently asked questions
What is parashat Vaera about?
Vaera (Exodus 6:2-9:35) is the second portion in the Book of Exodus. It opens with God revealing Himself to Moses by the name YHVH and reaffirming His covenant promise to redeem Israel from slavery, then recounts the first seven of the ten plagues against Egypt as Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to free the Israelites. Its deeper themes are God's covenant faithfulness, the famous "four expressions of redemption," and the recurring purpose that all may "know that I am the LORD." With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading with its trope.
What is the haftarah for Vaera?
The Haftarah for Vaera is Ezekiel 28:25-29:21, read in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities. It connects to the portion through its image of Pharaoh as "the great dragon" in the Nile who boasts "My Nile is my own; I made it," paralleling Vaera's defiant Pharaoh and the plague of the Nile turned to blood. When Vaera falls on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, a special Rosh Chodesh haftarah is read instead, so check your community's practice. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice the haftarah with its trope.
What are the themes of Vaera?
The central themes of Vaera are God's self-revelation by the name YHVH (versus El Shaddai known to the patriarchs), covenant faithfulness expressed in the "four expressions of redemption," Moses's reluctance and self-doubt, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, and divine judgments (shefatim) against Egypt. Running through all of it is the refrain that the plagues come so that Egypt and Israel will "know that I am the LORD." You can hear and practice the full reading with trope on TropeTrainer.
Which plagues are in parashat Vaera?
Vaera covers the first seven of the ten plagues: blood, frogs, lice, wild animals (swarms), pestilence of the livestock, boils, and hail. The final three plagues, locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn, appear in the following portion, Bo. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with its trope.
Where to go next
Open a sample Torah reading with full Hebrew text, trope marks, and audio to see how TropeTrainer works.
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
Work through guided lessons on Torah trope cantillation, from basic symbols to advanced phrase patterns.