Whether you want to start slow by learning one chapter a day or Sefer Hamiztvos, or are ready to take the leap to learn three chapters of Rambam a day, we’ve got you covered!
A lot of the material found here is from Chabad.org’s ‘Studying Rambam Daily: what, when, how and why.’
Who was the Rambam?
The Rambam (also known as Maimonides) was a Talmudist, philosopher, doctor, and rabbi born in Spain who flourished in Egypt in the 12th century. Among his many works was the Yad Hachazakah (simply known as Rambam or the Mishneh Torah), a 14-volume compendium of the totality of Jewish law, culled from the Torah, Talmud, Midrash, and the other teachings of the rabbis who preceded him.
The daily study program
In 1984, the Rebbe called for an innovative addition to the daily study schedule of every Jewish man, woman, and child. He suggested that everyone study a portion of the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. While many people had been turning to the 14-volume work to supplement their study of the Talmud or Jewish law, it was not being studied as a text on its own. As the chief rabbi of Israel, the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, wrote at the time: “The Rebbe brought Rambam back from being a book for scholars to being a book for the masses.”
Part of the reason for this neglect was because the Mishneh Torah includes many laws that are not relevant today for daily life - laws that only applied during Temple times and will again be pertinent during the Messianic Era. So people turned, instead, to the works that focus on Jewish laws that are immediately applicable. But it was for precisely this reason that the Rebbe recommended studying the Mishneh Torah: “It gathers all of Jewish law in a concise and clear fashion.” Every individual is commanded to study the entire Torah, a goal not within reach for most people. However, it is possible to study the whole Torah as compiled by Maimonides.
The Rebbe suggested that the Mishneh Torah should be studied straight through - from beginning to end - and that this be done according to an organized schedule.
Why the Rambam?
“One of the principal elements in the study of Rambam is the unification of Jewry,” the Rebbe was quoted in The New York Times as saying.
In a talk on April 28, 1984, the Rebbe explained that when everyone studies the same thing on the same day, their learning is united across continents. The Rebbe added that when different people study the same topic, they will come to discuss and debate it. This friendly and scholarly debate, the Rebbe said, will bring people closer to each other, contributing to unity among Jews.
Large numbers of Jewish people around the world immediately took it upon themselves to study the Mishneh Torah on a daily basis. Torah scholars and Chassidic masters issued their recommendation to join this new study cycle. Many Jewish dailies and weekly newspapers began printing the study schedule for the Mishneh Torah together with other existing daily study schedules.
At the completion of every cycle, hundreds of celebrations take place in locations spanning the globe. Torah scholars from every segment of the Jewish community join these gatherings, delivering in-depth analyses on sections of Rambam.
“The people praising [Maimonides] were centuries removed from the life of Maimonides, who was born 851 years ago in Cordoba, Spain,” read The New York Times on March 6, 1986, following the celebration of the second completion of the cycle, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. “Yet, after intensely studying his work this last year and applying his teachings, they gathered yesterday to celebrate the wisdom of the sage known to them as Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam.”
The article continued that “since Rabbi Schneerson instituted the program, studying Maimonides has become an integral part of many Jewish households.”
How to learn Rambam?
When introducing this initiative, the Rebbe set up three learning tracks, allowing anybody on any level to join the program:
- Those capable follow a three-chapter-per-day schedule, which completes the Mishneh Torah (Rambam) in slightly less than one year.
- For those unable to study three chapters every day, the Rebbe suggested a parallel track at a more modest pace of one chapter daily, which lasts nearly three years.
- For those who find even that too difficult, the Rebbe instituted yet a third track. Paralleling the three-chapter-per-day regimen by learning daily about the same commandments being studied there in detail, this one explores Maimonides’ significantly shorter Sefer Hamitzvot (“Book of Commandments”), concluding all 613 mitzvahs each year.
Where to begin
We are pleased to share with you our top suggestions for where to begin your journey of learning the daily Rambam. Click an option below to be directed to the study track you would like to join.
Sefer Hamiztvos | one-chapter-per-day | three-chapters-per-day
First a few general resources to aid you in learning Rambam:
Chabad.org’s daily study section of their website features the daily text of Rambam for all three tracks accompanied by several options of classes in audio or video format. You can also subscribe to receive the daily Rambam or Sefer Hamiztvos from Chabad.org via email. If you are an app person, the “Hayom” app has daily Rambam, along with other components of the daily study regimen and other handy information. You may also enjoy using the “Rabbi Gordon” app (more on Rabbi Gordon below). Many other applications are available for download on your phone's app store, see our daily study page for more options.
Many like to learn the daily Rambam with the weekly Chayenu publication or the Chayenu app. For more direct links to purchase Rambam, click here.
For our full daily study resource page, click here. For more specific information on how to get started on each track of Rambam, continue below.
Sefer Hamiztvos
The Sefer Hamiztvos track parallels to the three-chapter-per-day regimen by learning daily about the same commandments being studied there in detail, this one explores Maimonides’ significantly shorter Sefer Hamitzvot (“Book of Commandments”), concluding all 613 mitzvahs each year. Thai track is a very popular option for children and adults looking for somewhere to start, thus you will find resources below pertaining to both levels.
For Adults:
As a starting point, we suggest exploring Chabad.org’s daily study page of Sefer Hamiztvos. There you will find the text of the daily Miztvas both in Hebrew and English. Additionally, you will find the daily Sefer Hamiztvos class from Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, which is a very popular class for beginners, as well as, a daily audio class from Rabbi Berel Bell, and a daily video class specifically geared towards women from Mrs. Rochel Jacobs.
If you are a person who specifically appreciates learning from a book, Rabbi Berel Bells’ Sefer Hamiztvos book in English is a great place to start and it follows the daily study schedule.
For Children:
SeferHamitzvos.org is a one stop resource for everything under the sun connected to the daily study of Sefer Hamiztvos for children! The website features audio and video classes for all levels of learning, games, coloring sheets, and many other useful resources! If you would like to purchase a book to aid in your daily study, consider the ‘Sefer Hamitzvot for Youth’ by Malka Touger or the ‘My Rambam, My Connection’ from KidsChitas.org.
One chapter per day
By far the most popular option for learning the daily Rambam, especially for beginners, is the daily class from Rabbi Gordon. Each class bursting with his signature humor, clarity, and love of learning, Rabbi Gordon continues to inspire and teach thousands daily with his torah classes on Rambam, Tanyas, and Chumash.
Classes are also available from Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson, Rabbi Raleigh Resnick, Rabbi Avraham Zajac, and more! See our daily study page for more options.
Three chapters a day
By far the most popular option for learning the daily Rambam, especially for beginners, is the daily class from Rabbi Gordon. Each class bursting with his signature humor, clarity, and love of learning, Rabbi Gordon continues to inspire and teach thousands daily with his torah classes on Rambam, Tanyas, and Chumash.
There are many other useful resources to assist you in learning three chapters a day of Rambam, see our daily study page for more.
Purchasing books of Rambam
If you are a person who specifically appreciates learning from a book, we suggest exploring our ‘purchase Rambam’ page and reading this in-depth review on available sets of Rambam from Anash.org.