This is the list of the Torah Readings throughout the days of Pessach. There is a Maftir each day of Pessach taken from Sidra Pinchos in Sefer Bemidbor. On the first day of Yom Tov (and in Chutz lo’Oretz, on the second day, too) the Maftir starts with Possuk 16 of Chapter 28 and ends with Possuk 25. After the first day[s] of Pessach, the first three Pesukkim are omitted and the Maftir Reading is 28 : 19 — 25. Even though there is a Maftir each day of Pessach, there is a Haftorah only on Shabbos or Yom Tov.
Explanatory Notes
[NOTE 1] This Reading is particularly suited to the first day of Pessach as it describes the events that happened on this day of Pessach, including the Plague of the Smiting of the Firstborn the night before and our actual departure from Egypt.
[NOTE 2] This section contains the laws of all the Yommim Tovim (including, obviously, Pessach) and also teaches the Mitzvah of Counting the Omer which started on the previous evening of this day.
[NOTE 3] The Torah Readings of Pessach are all topical in that each of them include the laws of the Yom Tov of Pessach (or of Pessach Shayni, “the Second Pessach”) or are a description of the events of Pessach. The order of the Readings is given in the Gemorroh (Tractate Megillah, 31a) which uses the mnemonic מש תורא קדש בכספא פסל במדברא שלח בוכרא. This is the order in which these selections appear in the Chumash, with the selection which is earlier in the Chumash being read earlier in the Yom Tov. There are some understandable exceptions to this pattern, usually quite obvious or easily explained — as, for example, the Readings for the first two days are explained in the previous two NOTES. On the third day of Pessach, the general order of the Torah Readings of Pessach resumes with this reading, קדש.
[NOTE 4] This Reading follows the resumed order of the Readings — this section is the next one in the Chumash (which teaches about Pessach) after yesterday’s Reading.
[NOTE 5] This Reading contains the laws of Pessach as well as all the other Yommim Tovim and it appears next in the Chumash after yesterday’s Reading. However, since this section contains also the Mitzvah to observe the Shabbos, therefore in those years when there is a Shabbos Chol HaMo’ed this is the Reading for that day of Shabbos. This Reading, פסל, is not then repeated on its usual day, the fifth day of Pessach because, with the exception of Maftir, usually no Torah Reading is repeated on any day of the same Yom Tov. Another Reading then takes the place of the section of פסל which would have been read on the fifth day of Pessach and instead, קדש is read on the fourth day and בכספא is read on the fifth day of Pessach.
[NOTE 6] The next section in the Chumash which teaches about the Korban Pessach in the Wilderness (and also about Pessach Shayni).
[NOTE 7] Describes the event of the day. קריעת ים סוף (the Splitting of the Reed Sea) happened on the seventh day of Pessach.
[NOTE 8] This Reading contains the general laws of the Yommim Tovim (including Pessach) and also the Mitzvah of “You shall rejoice on your Festivals” and “You shall be only happy.” It also has in it the reminder to the people to fulfil their Korban obligations before they all make their way home and for us today this is a reminder of the Beis HaMikdash.
