On Hanukah, there is a special Torah reading throughout the Holiday. The selection, found in Parashat Naso, relates the Korbanot (offerings) of the Nesi’im (Princes) at the dedication of the Mishkan. The connection to Hanukah is based on the Midrash Pesikta that states that the Mishkan was completed on the 25th of Kislev but was dedicated later in the month of Nisan.
The Sephardic custom differs from the Ashkenazim in a number of ways. First, the reading begins with the passage of Birkat Kohanim (Preistly Blessing), since the miracle of Hanukah happened through the Kohanim. The proper custom is not to stop the first Aliya at the end of Birkat Kohanim, but to proceed into the next passage in order to connect each Aliya with the topic of the Nesi’im. Hacham Ovadia rules that if someone did stop there, B’diavad, it is not a Beracha L’vatala.
The second difference is that the Sephardic custom is to read only one Nasi per day, whereas the Ashkenazim read the current day and the next day. For example, on the second day of Hanukah, only the passage of the second Nasi is read and repeated in order for there to be enough Pesukim for all of the Aliyot.
A third difference concerns how to break up the reading on the final day of Hanukah. The custom is to read the eighth day of the Nesi’im by the Kohen and Levi, and then the Yisrael goes back and reads the eighth day from the beginning through the beginning of Parashat Baha’alotha.
The Halachic principle on Hanukah states, "En Mashgihim B’Hanukah"-The Halacha is not particular about mistakes in reading the Torah on Hanukah, as long as three Aliyot were read. If they inadvertently read the wrong day, B’diavad, they do not have to go back and reread the correct day. Moreover, even if they read the regular weekly Parasha, they fulfilled their obligation. This also applies to a case in which they began reading from the correct place, but then continued the details of the Korbanot from a different passage, according to R. Svi Pesah Frank and Hacham Ovadia.
Every Hanukah also has Rosh Hodesh. On that day, two Sifre Torah are read from, the first for Rosh Hodesh and the Second for Hanukah. When Rosh Hodesh falls on Shabbat Hanukah, three Sifre Torah are read from. Six Aliyot are read from the regular Parasha; One Aliya from the Rosh Hodesh passage and the Maftir is for Hanukah. This follows the principle of "Tadir Kodem"-the more frequent Misva is performed first. Also, Hanukah is read last in order to connect it to the Haftora of Hanukah.
