It was Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh, 5745, just one month before the first siyum haRambam would take place. In the farbrengen, the Rebbe mentioned that for those who learn just one perek a day, there would be a siyum for Sefer Kedusha on Purim that coming week. The Rebbe then asked why there was a lack of attention given to the one-chapter-a-day track.
The Rebbe pointed out that “in the midst of all of the excitement about the three-chapter-a-day course of study — which is the one that has gained greater popularity — people have forgotten to build up the excitement over the one-chapter-a-day course of study for those who cannot study three chapters a day!”
The Rebbe then pointed to some undeniable evidence that the one-chapter-a-day study schedule was being ignored.
“When the call to study Rambam began, it was made clear that although three-chapters-a-day is superior because it completes the Mishne Torah in one year, nevertheless, since there are those for whom it is too difficult to learn three chapters a day, there should be another group who learn one chapter a day. Indeed, that is why when the campaign began, a special effort was made to print the moreh shiur for one-chapter-a-day. However, over time, all of the attention has been given to the three-chapter-a-day cycle, excitement has waned regarding one-chapter-a-day and they stopped printing the schedule! And this is despite the fact that the suggestion and request was made over and over that the daily study of Rambam should unite all Jews and should include people who cannot learn three chapters a day. Now after all that, this oversight didn’t bother anyone? Nobody said a word?”
See the actual transcript here.
Today is the siyum of Sefer Hafla’ah for those who study one chapter a day. The date will not be missed by Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon of Encino, CA and his tens of thousands of online students who study Rambam perek echod with him every day on Chabad.org’s video site Jewish.TV.
Watch today’s shiur in perek echod and the siyum of Sefer Hafla’ah.
Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos.
I repeatedly tried to get going with 3 chapters, but sooner (not later) I became totally overwhelmed. Then I tried 1 chapter, and B.H. I’ve been at it for well over 20 years.
Maybe this is why the Rebbe gave multiple tracks.
When there are two missions for two different types of people can’t be a machloikes. If you are sure you are those than can learn 3 prokim, go ahead and fulfill the Rebbe’s wish. But if you are sure that with all your occupations and other shiurim would be very difficult to add 3 prokim a day EVERY DAY!!! then is better to stick to the other mission until things move around. The Rebbe wanted Yidn to be united in the study of Mishne Torah not to discuss how to, each person can judge his own situation with his own… Read more »
I am not a spokesperson for Rabbi Lew, but I don’t get your point: If the Rebbe preferred 3 Prokim, and Rabbi Lew is pointing that out, why is it showing off? Isn’t it true that the Rebbe wasn’t putting 1 Perek “down” by never mentioning it? I think you may be misunderstanding Rabbi Lew.
are you trying to encourage more people to learn 3 prokim or trying to discourage people from learning 1?
When you are mevatel the 1 perek, it just makes a chalishus. People feel like “what’s the point?”
Please, stress positive. Don’t put down 1 chapter especially with snide remarks like “not too many people are in the category of truly finding it difficult to fulfill a wish from the Rebbe.”
That just makes people feel bad. It serves no point other than for you to show off.
The author of the article misses two points: 1) A little later in that same Sicha, the Rebbe said that for those who can study three chpaters a day, learning (just) one is considered “Bittul Torah”! Personally, I would imagine that not too many people are in the category of truly finding it “difficult” to fulfill a wish from the Rebbe – the only one that can be fulfilled every single day of the year – to learn Three Prokim each day. The learning of three chapters a day was the main point of the Rebbe establishing the study of… Read more »
Please provide a link to the PDFs for the various More’e Shi’ur
They used to be much more readily available
Thank you
Do you have a response to this? (You always koch zich in the Rebbe never making a single reference to perek echod other than the original acharon shel Pesach that the Rebbe introduced the three tracks…)
He is klal yisrael’s teacher! Everone I know has studied with him by now. The miracles of modern technology!