Why Do Synagogues Skip Isaiah Chapter 53?

Isaiah 53 is often called the “Forbidden Chapter.” It sparked debate between Judaism and Christianity. Today, it is omitted from public readings in many synagogues. Early Jewish sages saw this passage as a prophecy of the coming Messiah. But as the Christian Gospel spread, its parallels with Jesus led rabbis to remove it from the haftarah cycle. According to a Jewish-Israeli scholar, a 17th-century historian noted that arguments over this chapter prompted rabbis to end readings in the middle of Isaiah 52 and resume at Isaiah 54. That tradition continues in many congregations today.

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