haph·ta·rah also haf·ta·rah or haf·to·rah  (häf'tä-rä', häf-tôr'ə, -tōr'ə)  n. pl. haph·ta·roth also haf·ta·roth or haph·to·roth also haf·to·roth or haph·to·rot also haf·to·rot or haph·to·ros also haf·to·ros (-tä-rōt', -rōs', -tôr'ōt', -ōs', -tōr'-) Judaism A selection from the Prophets, read in synagogue services on the Sabbath following each lesson from the Torah. [Mishnaic Hebrew hapṭārâ, conclusion, from hipṭîr, to conclude, dismiss, derived stem of Hebrew pāṭar, to separate, discharge; see pṭr in Semitic roots.] |