Daf Yomi

The regulation of studying the Daf Yomi (daily page) of the Babylonian Talmud is a regulation that was instituted by Rabbi Meir Shapira of Lublin at the Great Assembly of Agudas Yisroel, in the year 5683 (1923) in Austria. The regulation was not accepted among the Rebbes and Chassidim of Lubavitch.

The Daf Yomi Regulation in Chabad

Even though Daf Yomi was established by Gedolei Yisroel (Torah leaders), there were Torah leaders who did not accept it, and there were even those who rejected it for various reasons, and this was also the case among our Rebbes and Chabad Chassidim.

There were instances where the Rebbe Rayatz encouraged householders to learn within the framework of the "Daf Yomi" regulation, but these were only exceptional cases, and among Chabad Chassidim there are almost no Daf Yomi classes.

The Rebbe mentioned in one of his talks that the Rebbe Rayatz did not instruct the Temimim students to learn within the framework of this regulation. The Rebbe explained that from this it is understood that the regulation does not apply to all of Israel, and "each river flows its own way"; and one of the reasons for this is because it might reduce other shiurim (classes) that one should learn, and the Torah leaders who accepted the regulation or who initially rejected it and later changed their minds, believe that for the particular situation of their community, the regulation can be beneficial. And because it is not relevant to the entire Jewish people, there is no need to participate in it.

The Rebbe gave an example from when the tribal leaders brought sacrifices, Aaron's spirits were only downcast when all the tribal leaders had offered sacrifices, because only then was it clear that this sacrifice was relevant to all of Israel, but on the previous days it was possible to think that it only pertained to the particular matter of certain tribes.

After delivering the sicha (talk), the Rebbe instructed to omit the reference to Daf Yomi from the written version, and therefore this section does not exist in any of the transcripts.

Nevertheless, there are positive references by the Rebbe to those who learn following the Daf Yomi track, and also to the Daf Yomi of the Jerusalem Talmud that was established by the Gerrer Rebbe, which the Rebbe strongly supported. The Rebbe even said about learning "Daf Yomi" - "that this is a custom established by the great leaders of Israel, and is connected with the merit of the public."

Also, the factions in the Charedi public that oppose Agudas Yisroel, such as the Edah HaCharedis and Satmar, do not learn Daf Yomi, to emphasize their non-affiliation with Agudas Yisroel, as Daf Yomi was intended to unite the Jewish people around it.

Ancient Source

After the passing of the Maggid of Mezritch, the disciples of the Maggid gathered together with the Alter Rebbe and already then established a regulation that every day they would learn a page of Gemara.

Chabad Gemara Learning Tracks

• Division of Shas. The Alter Rebbe instituted the division of Shas every year on the 19th of Kislev, and this has been practiced since the time of the Alter Rebbe until our days. This allows for learning the tractate completely and more deeply proportionately throughout the year.
• Learning Masechet Sotah. During the days of Sefirat HaOmer, Chabad Chassidim have the custom to learn Masechet Sotah, one page per day.
• Amud Yomi (daily page). The Rebbe Rayatz instructed in his talks on Simchat Torah and the 19th of Kislev 5683 (1922) to learn one page of Gemara per day. However, no joint track was established (this regulation preceded the Daf Yomi regulation by half a year).

See Also

• Daf Yomi in the Jerusalem Talmud

External Links

• [Amud Yomi Website www.amudyomichabad.com/he]
• The special connection of our Rebbes to the founder of 'Daf Yomi'
• What is the position of our Rebbes regarding Daf Yomi?
• Chabad Amud Yomi marks one hundred years since the call of the Rebbe Rayatz