The public reading of the Torah on Monday, Thursday, and Shabbat mornings was instituted by Moses himself, so that the people would not go for three days without Torah study.

The weekly Torah portion, which is read on Shabbat morning, is divided into seven sections, known as aliyot. A different person ascends [oleh] for the reading of each section and recites blessings before and after the reading. An individual section is called an aliya, and the person called up for the reading is called the oleh.

The first person called up to the reading of the Torah is a kohen (if there is a kohen among the congregants), followed by a Levite (if one is present). The rest of the aliyot are for Israelites, i.e., those who are not kohanim or Levites. The seventh aliya completes the weekly Torah portion, after which the last verses of the Torah portion are repeated. This repetition of the final verses is called the maftir. A kohen, Levite, or Israelite may be called up for maftir.

The custom of Sephardim is to lift up the Torah scroll before the reading. By contrast, Ashkenazim raise the scroll after the reading. This ceremonial lifting is performed so that the congregation can see the writing of the Torah scroll.

At the end of the reading in Ashkenazic communities, the scroll is rolled up, tied with a belt, and wrapped in its special cover. Sephardim close up and protect their Torah scrolls in a hard, decorative case.

At this stage the person called for maftir reads the haftara, a passage from one of the books of the Prophets. Every week a different haftara is read. The verses of the haftara are generally connected to the content of the weekly portion.

Whereas the Torah portion must be read from a Torah scroll that was written by a scribe on parchment, with no vocalization or cantillation marks, in many congregations the haftara is read from a printed book, which contains both of these aids to accurate reading.

If the one who is called up for the reading of the maftir finds it difficult to read the haftara or to chant its melody, he may recite the blessing before and after the haftara, while leaving the reading of the haftara itself for another person who is well versed in the reading.

After the Torah reading, the congregation recites the additional [Musaf] prayer service. This festive prayer is unique to Shabbatot, festivals, and Rosh Hodesh. It was instituted by the Sages as a substitute for the additional [musaf] offering that was brought in the Temple on these holy days. This prayer also contains seven blessings. At the conclusion of the Musaf service, some have the custom to recite or even sing together certain liturgical poems, such as Anim Zemirot.