Seven people are called up to recite blessings before and after they have read the the sacred Hebrew text of the Torah from the scroll.
The practice of public reading from the Torah dates back at least to the time of Ezra. The word parashah meaning portion read each week follows a prescribed sequence tied to the Jewish year. The portion or the Parashah read each week anywhere between one and six chapters long, is not picked on the spur of the moment but follows a prescribed sequence tied to the Jewish year.
There are a total of 54 parashot for the entire year. The reading commences with Beresheet to Devarim. 34 on Simchat Torah the following year, when with great joy the scroll is immediately re-rolled and Beresheet 1 is read again. The reading from the scripture does not end just with the Torah portion.
After the Torah portion are read follows on the reading of prophets known as Haftarah (completion), Tehillim, or Ketuvim and Brit Hadashah.
The seven Aliyot (person) who call up to read is called "aliyah". Being called up to the bimah (pulpit) for the Torah reading is an honor. The Hebrew word for such an invitation is aliyah it meaning "going up" it is the same word use for the meaning "immigrating to Yisrael" since it is a spiritual going up for a Yehudi to return to the land.
In the Complete Jewish Bible in the Torah section will be equip with the following:
At the begining of each parashah, gives it name and the meaning which is often a phrases or word from the first few verse as the theme of the reading. Also with each Torah portion are bold-face printed italicized (i; ii; iii; vi; v; vi; vii) indicating where each of the aliyot begins.
Near the end of the seventh aliyah is the word Maftir whoever is to read the haftarah starts by reading these final verses of the Torah portion from the scroll or the scriptures and then reads the Neviim portion from the scriptures.