Megillah 31 - Reading Torah in the synagogue

Since this tractate, Megillah, is mainly about reading the Megillah in the synagogue on Purim, the Talmud now lists all other instances of reading from the Scriptures in the synagogue. Where do we find the commandment to do that? The phrase "And Moses proclaimed the festivals to the Children of Israel" tells us that there is an obligation to read about the festival at its appropriate time.

We already saw a conversation where God tells Abraham that the world exists in the merit of the sacrifices in the Temple. Here we have the continuation of this conversation. Abraham asked, "That answer is good when the Temple is standing. But without the Temple, if the Jews sin - you will destroy them!" God replied that while the Jews are reading the Torah portions, which contain sections about offering, it is as if they were bringing the offerings. That is why they will be forgiven.

Art: Jews Mourning in a Synagogue by Sir William Rothenstein