The Rebbe on Learning Rambam

“The content of studying this sefer is the study of the entire Oral Torah, as the Rambam writes in his introduction: ‘A person reads the Written Torah first, and then reads this, and knows from it the entire Oral Torah and needs no other book between them.’”

“In addition to all the virtues of all of Yisroel uniting in one single study, and specifically in matters of halachah, and specifically in the sefer of the Rambam, which encompasses the decided laws of all 613 mitzvos of the Torah.”

“Torah study must be in all parts of the Torah, reaching the study of the entire Torah—the halachos of the Torah, which, having defined boundaries, enable one to fulfill the mitzvah of studying the entire Torah; especially by establishing fixed times for the study of Rambam, to learn the entire Sefer HaRambam, which gathers the entire Oral Torah, from beginning to end.”

“Strengthening the daily study of the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah in its daily tracks—three chapters a day, one chapter a day, or Sefer HaMitzvos—prepares oneself and the world for the era of Moshiach, culminating in the promise that ‘the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as the waters cover the sea.’”

“Studying the Rambam’s decided halachos—which possess an eternal quality and will never be nullified—actively hastens the coming of Moshiach, paralleling the teaching of Chazal that the ingathering of the exiles occurs in the merit of studying halachos.”

“I heard many times from my father-in-law, the Rebbe, that the Rambam and his seforim are held in special esteem by the leaders of Chabad: the Alter Rebbe quotes the Rambam in many places, and the Tzemach Tzedek maintained a special study session in it with his beloved youngest son and successor, interpreting it according to the foundations of Chassidus and Kabbalah.”

The Rebbe uses learning Rambam together with his commentaries as an example of studying Torah with fuller explanation. In a letter about understanding Chassidus, he compares this to learning the Mishnah together with the Gemara, rather than stopping at the brief text alone.

The Rambam’s spiritual and ethical passages are part of his book of halachah; they demand the same careful attention to every word as his technical rulings.

The Rambam begins with knowing Hashem because these foundational mitzvos are the bedrock of love, awe, Torah study, and the observance that follows.

Because the Rambam writes conclusions rather than debates, a change of wording, an omission, or the placement of a halachah may disclose an entire legal principle.

Mishneh Torah and Moreh Nevuchim use different styles, but they are not conflicting visions; both guide a person toward knowledge of Hashem and spiritual perfection.

Alongside your own Rambam study, encourage others around you—men, women, and children—to join the learning. Help the circle of learners grow, so that still more people will follow their example.

After urging increased Rambam study and encouraging others to join, the Rebbe expressed the wish that the very resolution to do this should bring its reward immediately: the fulfillment of the Rambam’s closing vision of a world filled with the knowledge of Hashem.

“Celebrate the Siyum HaRambam with joy, together with the prayer that we merit the fulfillment of the Rambam’s closing words: ‘The earth will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as the waters cover the sea’—immediately and ממש.”

Just as we should live with the weekly Torah portion, we should live with the daily Rambam. The day’s learning should become part of how we serve Hashem.

Finding a practical lesson in the daily Rambam is more than an exercise in cleverness. There is a real lesson in that day’s learning that we are meant to discover and apply.

The Rebbe described his dream of Jews everywhere becoming united through learning Rambam—joining together in a shared study that encompasses the entire Torah.

If your capacity allows one chapter a day, do not feel discouraged: that study is as valuable for you as three chapters are for someone able to learn them. The responsibility is to learn according to your abilities.

Do not stay away from a Siyum HaRambam because plenty of others will attend. Each person’s participation matters: a larger gathering adds to the honor of Hashem.

When preparing a Torah talk or a farbrengen, include a lesson from the daily Rambam. Alongside the subjects of the season, bring the day’s learning into the conversation.

In encouraging publicity and celebration around Rambam study, the Rebbe wrote that even greater enthusiasm should not cause concern about exceeding moderation—we had not yet reached even a third or a quarter of what was needed.

The Rambam relies on explanations he has already given. Learning his work in order—including its opening chapters—helps us understand later halachos on the foundation he established.

The excitement surrounding daily Rambam should include those who learn one chapter a day. The Rebbe called for active encouragement of this track for people unable to study three chapters daily.

The daily Rambam initiative was intended to unite all Jews. That purpose requires making room for those unable to learn three chapters a day—and giving their one-chapter schedule ongoing attention and support.

Learning Rambam in the language of the country brings Torah’s wisdom into that language and into everyday life. Its holiness reaches beyond the Holy Tongue and permeates the wider world.

Even when the daily Rambam schedule leaves little time for extensive analysis, those able to do so should choose one halachah—or even one detail—from that day’s portion and study it more deeply.

Undertake daily Rambam bli neder—without making a vow—but with a firm resolve to follow through. Avoiding a vow does not mean approaching the learning halfheartedly.

Daily Rambam fulfills the Torah’s commandment to study Torah. When undertaken in response to the Rebbe’s directive, it carries an additional precious quality: fulfilling the instruction of one’s Rebbe.

The greatest honor we can give the Rambam is to study his work seriously. Celebrating his life should lead us to open his sefer and learn its teachings.

When a Jew learns a halachah from Rambam, the connection with its author remains alive. Drawing on the Sages’ teaching that a scholar’s lips move when his teachings are repeated, the Rebbe explained that this learning brings improvement to the entire world.

The Torah insights shared at a Rambam completion celebration should be written down and published. Even a small gathering can produce questions and explanations worth sharing, extending the benefit to participants and their families.

Daily Rambam should continue to grow with you. Work toward studying three chapters when you can, and deepen your understanding as well. Even someone already learning three chapters daily has further room to grow.

Join a communal class for daily Rambam. When that is not possible, arrange to learn with a study partner, bringing another person into your daily learning.

Even children too young to study Sefer HaMitzvos independently can participate. Explain the day’s mitzvah in words they can understand, allowing them to take part at their own level.

When reviewing a description of daily Rambam study, the Rebbe removed the word “endeavor” from the three-chapter track. The description was to say that participants learn three chapters each day, while retaining the other tracks for those unable to do so.

Begin by understanding clearly what the Rambam actually says. Careful study of the straightforward meaning provides the foundation for deeper analysis, comparisons, and new insights.

You do not need to wait for a new cycle to join daily Rambam. Begin with the current day’s portion, together with the other learners. Then gradually complete the earlier portions, taking enough time to understand what you learn.

You do not need to be a halachic authority to fulfill the Rambam’s purpose. Learning his words with a straightforward understanding—even at a beginner’s level—fulfills his intention that the laws be accessible to small and great alike.

A Rambam celebration can awaken someone who has never participated before. That person can then encourage others to join, becoming a source of light for further learners.

The Rambam divides Mishneh Torah into eighty-three sections of law. The Rebbe connected this number with the numerical value of machlah, illness, explaining it as an allusion to the healing that Torah brings and an encouragement to increase Rambam study.

Completing Mishneh Torah leads directly into learning it again. After the first cycle, the Rebbe urged participants to begin anew and emphasized that the learning should continue.

If even one chapter of Mishneh Torah each day is beyond your present ability, you can participate through Sefer HaMitzvos. This track provides a place in the shared daily learning for those unable to follow either chapter-based cycle.