- General
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Bugs
You have both Chukat and Balak for July 17, 2027.
The error may originate with Shavuot II in 2027 June 12, which sources say should be superseded by Naso in the diaspora when Shavuot II falls on Shabbat. This site has Naso https://www.reformjudaism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MRJ-Calendar-of-Torah-and-Haftarah-Readings-2024-2027-v6.pdf.
Answer
Thanks for flagging this, and for tracing it back to Shavuot. I agree it’s not a bug. Hebcal is listing two different readings for July 17, 2027, one per calendar, and they're correct for each:
• Diaspora: Parashat Chukat-Balak
• Israel: Parashat Balak
Your Shavuot observation is the right explanation. In 2027 the second day of Shavuot falls on Shabbat (June 12). Communities that keep two days of yom tov, i.e. Conservative and Orthodox communities in the Diaspora, read the festival portion that day, so Naso is pushed back a week. Israel, which keeps one day, reads Naso on June 12. The Diaspora then stays a week behind until the two cycles are rejoined by combining Chukat and Balak on July 17.
The UK Reform calendar you linked shows Naso on June 12 because Reform/Liberal communities follow the one-day festival length.
So if you're following the Reform calendar, please check the "Israel" box instead of "Diaspora" in Hebcal. That should give you the readings that match the Reform PDF, including Balak alone on July 17.
Hope that helps, and thanks again for the careful report!
Never mind. My source appears to be inaccurate based on these explanations Out of Sync, Still Together: Why Israel and the Diaspora Read Different Parashot - Rabbi Phil Goldwasser and What are the Shavuot Torah Readings About? - The Digital Home for Conservative Judaism
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Thanks for flagging this, and for tracing it back to Shavuot. I agree it’s not a bug. Hebcal is listing two different readings for July 17, 2027, one per calendar, and they're correct for each:
• Diaspora: Parashat Chukat-Balak
• Israel: Parashat Balak
Your Shavuot observation is the right explanation. In 2027 the second day of Shavuot falls on Shabbat (June 12). Communities that keep two days of yom tov, i.e. Conservative and Orthodox communities in the Diaspora, read the festival portion that day, so Naso is pushed back a week. Israel, which keeps one day, reads Naso on June 12. The Diaspora then stays a week behind until the two cycles are rejoined by combining Chukat and Balak on July 17.
The UK Reform calendar you linked shows Naso on June 12 because Reform/Liberal communities follow the one-day festival length.
So if you're following the Reform calendar, please check the "Israel" box instead of "Diaspora" in Hebcal. That should give you the readings that match the Reform PDF, including Balak alone on July 17.
Hope that helps, and thanks again for the careful report!