Chitas (or Chitat חת”ת) refers to a daily practice of studying three Jewish texts: Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. These texts are considered to be basic and essential for the spiritual growth and development of a Jew, and their daily study was instituted by the Sixth Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneersohn, of righteous memory.

The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, encouraged this regimen and also added the daily study of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah—either three chapters daily, or one chapter daily, or in a parallel study of Sefer Hamitzvot (Book of Commandments).

Unpacking the Chitas Regimen

Chumash is the Hebrew name for the Five Books of Moses, which are divided into 54 weekly portions (parshiyot) read in synagogues on Shabbat throughout the year. Each portion is further divided into seven aliyot. Through studying an aliyah each day, one reviews the entire Chumash each year. When learning Chitas, one traditionally studies the text with the accompanying commentary of Rashi, the foremost Biblical commentator.

Tehillim is the book of Psalms, in which King David expresses his love and awe for G‑d, his faith, and so much more. The book’s 150 chapters are divided into 30 portions, one for each day of the month, allowing one to recite the entire book each month. Unlike the other parts of Chitas, Tehillim is said as a prayer and not necessarily studied.

Tanya is the seminal work of philosophy and ideology by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad. In addition to addressing the nature of G‑d, the soul, and the world around us, it provides practical guidance on how to serve G‑d with joy and devotion in every aspect of our lives. The Tanya is divided into daily portions, which allows one to learn the entire book over the course of the year, starting on 19 Kislev, the “Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism.”

The Additional Elements

Hayom Yom: Many also learn (and “live with”) the daily teaching from Hayom Yom, a slim volume containing a chassidic aphorism or lesson for each day, compiled by the Rebbe.

Rambam: In 1984, the Rebbe instituted a daily study cycle, whereby Mishneh Torah by Maimonides (often simply referred to as “Rambam”) is completed on a regular basis.

  1. Those capable follow a three-chapter-per-day schedule, which completes the Mishneh Torah in slightly less than one year.
  2. 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.
  3. For those who find that too difficult as well, 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.

How to Learn Chitas

The daily Tehillim is traditionally said following morning prayers. The rest of the program is studied at a time convenient for you before the day has ended.

You may choose to purchase the appropriate books (certainly a laudable idea), and start learning. Or you may choose to go digital.

In either case, you can access the text in multiple languages and also follow audio/video presentations from an array of teachers. One downside of the digital option is that neither the app nor the website are to be used on Shabbat or Jewish holidays.

You may also choose to subscribe to Chayenu, a weekly printed periodical that includes the Chitas and Rambam for the week, as well as a wealth of Jewish learning and inspiration to enjoy all week long.

The Chitas Book

Since the 1980s, the three core texts of Chitas have been printed and sold as a single volume, together with a prayerbook and Hayom Yom, in a book known as Sefer Hachitas (“Chitas Book”).

Purchase a Chitas here

Technical Notes

  • The daily Chumash cycle coincides with the parshah of the week. When Shabbat coincides with a holiday, the weekly portion is deferred, and the special holiday portion is read instead. This means that the same portion of Chumash may be studied two or even three weeks in a row.

Also note that since the final portion, Vezot Haberachah, is read on Simchat Torah and the first portion, Bereshit, is read the following Shabbat, there are times when one has as little as one day to learn the entire portion. Sounds confusing?Not to worry, our Ask the Rabbi team can help you if you need further clarification.

  • Tehillim has 30 portions, one for every day of the month, but roughly half of the Jewish months have only 29 days. When that happens, one says portion 29 and portion 30 on the final day of the month.
  • Every two or three years, there is a Jewish leap year, when a 13th month is added, and Adar I is followed by Adar II. The Hayom Yom has entries for both months. In ordinary years, when there is just one month of Adar, the entries for Adar I and Adar II are read each day of Adar.

  • The Tanya has two separate tracks, one for ordinary years, which has slightly longer portions, and a track for leap years, which has smaller portions, so that the cycle lasts for an additional month. Since this cycle begins and ends on 19 Kislev, one must be aware of this difference for several months after the leap year has concluded.