Living Torah Archives

Regarding the annual study of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, when study of a part of Torah is completed, it must at once begin anew, as was just done on Simchas Torah. You probably don’t need a reminder, but you can remind your students. (Collage)

In 1984, the Rebbe initiated a campaign for the daily study of Maimonides’ seminal work, the Mishneh Torah, with the aim of completing the fourteen volumes over the course of a year.

Rabbi Shmuel Butman recalls the day the Rebbe called him to his house, requesting that he publish a book commemorating the worldwide celebrations of the annual completion of the Mishneh Torah. His due date? Three weeks. (1980s)

The Rebbe concludes the yearly study cycle of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah in his home on President Street, Brooklyn. In the very last law, Maimonides describes the future redemption.

“The study of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah is not just for yeshiva students, it is universal.”

Completion of the first study cycle of Maimonides’ code of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah.

One should search for ways to bring another Jew to the study of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah. One way is to celebrate the conclusion of Mishneh Torah...

Upon the conclusion of the 4th daily study cycle of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, the Rebbe discusses the significance of celebrating the occasion.

The Mishneh Torah was not written only for great Torah scholars. Maimonides himself writes that he composed it in a clear unambiguous style for all Jews – “for small and great alike.”

Mr. Yisroel Katzover is a senior journalist who covered the IDF for several decades for numerous Israeli newspapers and media channels. Through the years, he consulted and received much advice and guidance from the Rebbe.

Each time one begins a Torah study cycle anew, it is not enough to review — one needs to find new dimensions.

Maimonides concludes his code of law, the Mishneh Torah, by describing the era of Moshiach as a time of peace, abundance and enlightenment. All luxuries will be readily available, and yet they will be esteemed in man’s eyes as the dust. As such, we will devote ourselves totally to the study of Torah.

All Jews should unite through Torah, by studying the same subject in Torah at the same time. Since Torah's practical laws are relevant and comprehensible by Jews of all backgrounds, we suggested a cycle of daily study of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah.

Maimonides writes in the introduction to his Code of Jewish law that if one studies the five Books of Moses and goes straight to studying his code, he will know all of Jewish law, of both the Written and Oral Torah. This means that the scope of Maimonides’ codification is beyond anything that ever preceded or followed it!

The daily study of Maimonides’ works is becoming increasingly widespread. The Mishneh Torah, his Magnum Opus that codifies Jewish Law, serves to guide all Jews through the intricacies of Jewish observance. It is not geared for scholars alone. It guides “small and great alike,” as they pursue their life tasks.