Dear Reader sh’yichyeh:
This past week world Jewry celebrated a special milestone. The “Global Campaign for the Study of Rambam” celebrated its 30th cycle of completing the Rambam.
Many communities around the world held large gatherings to honor the occasion. Keeping in line with our theme that everything about Dor HaShvii is connected to bringing Moshiach, I will try to outline the connection between learning Rambam and bringing Moshiach.
A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN
In the spring of 1984, the Rebbe called for an innovative addition to the daily study schedule of every Jewish man, woman and child. He suggested that everyone should study a portion of Maimonides’ compendium of Jewish law, known as the Mishneh Torah, or simply as Rambam.
While many people had been turning to the fourteen-volume work to supplement their study of the Talmud or Jewish law, it was not being studied as a text on its own. Maimonides’ work was somewhat neglected, as the chief rabbi of Israel Rabbi Ovadia Yosef wrote at the time, “The Rebbe brought Rambam back from being a book for scholars to being a book for the masses from which to study.”
The Rebbe suggested that the Mishneh Torah should be studied straight through, from beginning to end, and that this be done according to an organized schedule.
The Rebbe suggested a three-track system:
For those who are capable, a three chapter per-day schedule should be followed, which completes the Mishneh Torah in slightly less than one year.
For those who lack the time to study three chapters a day, a one chapter per-day program that lasts close to three years is appropriate.
For those whose level of scholarship does not allow for the proper study of Mishneh Torah, the Rebbe suggested that they study every day from Maimonides’ Seifer HaMitzvos, the Book of Commandments. The commandments being studied in great detail by those participating in the three chapter per-day regimen should coincide with the commandments being reviewed by those following this track, concluding all 613 commandments in the same course of time.
THE NOVELTY OF THE RAMBAM CAMPAIGN
When the Rebbe came out with the campaign of learning Rambam, there was a tremendous outcry from the religious world against it. At first glance it would seem strange that religious Jews would be against additional study of the Torah. We can understand if they scream against outreach to unaffiliated Jews or spreading the seven Noachide laws to the gentiles, but to be against the study of Torah?
The answer in my opinion is very simple. By instituting a world campaign to learn Rambam, the Rebbe is also making a statement. The statement is: I am here to elevate even the orthodox Jew who does not want to learn Chassidus!
In order to clarify this point, I want to repeat a vort that I heard at a Farbrengen from Rabbi Moshe Feller, Shliach to Minnesota. He said: “When one is on Shlichus, he is always busy and can’t sleep. The only time I could ever sleep was when I was traveling on a plane.
“When the Rebbe came out with Mivtza T’fillin, I could not go to sleep on the plane if there were Jewish men there that had yet to put on T’fillin. When the Rebbe came out with Mivtza Neshek, I could not sleep if there was a Jewish woman on the plane who did not yet light candles. But if there were no Jews on the plane, I could sleep. When the Rebbe came out with the mivtza of spreading “Sheva Mitzvos” I could no longer sleep on the plane!”
In other words: The Rebbe has something to share with everyone. Before the Rebbe instituted the learning of Rambam, the average religious Jew felt “immune” to the Rebbe. “Lubavitch is helpful for those who are beginners or unaffiliated with Judaism, but not for those heavily involved,” was the common sentiment. The only exception was if one wanted to learn chassidus. But if a person was satisfied with just learning the revealed part of Torah, there was no “campaign” for him. The non-Lubavitch world felt that they held the rights to Gemara and Rambam etc.
With the institution of the Rambam campaign, the Rebbe is telling us to connect to him – and get others to connect to him – through the learning of Nigleh and Halacha. This is quite a revolution.
THE MOSHIACH CONNECTION
The daily Rambam study unites the entire Jewish people. Jews around the world, from all walks of life, learn the daily quota of Rambam. There is no other Jewish daily study program in which men, women and children can all take part. Unity brings redemption.
The Rambam is a Seifer Halacha, and learning Halacha helps bring Moshiach. This is evident by what Chazal say (Midrash VaYikra 7:3): “The in-gathering of the exiles is in the merit of Mishnayos and Halacha” and “Whoever learns halachos every day is guaranteed a portion in the world to come” (Tanna d’Vei Eliyahu).
When one learns the entire Rambam, he merits learning the whole Torah. Then he has the full right to demand the “New Torah of Moshiach.”
Finally, the Rambam is the only Posek to discuss the Halachos of Moshiach, Korbanos and the laws pertaining to the Beis HaMikdash. By learning these Halachos, Moshiach becomes real and relevant in our lives.
THIS YEAR IS UNIQUE
As mentioned earlier, this year the cycle of Rambam will be finished for the 30th time. Chazal (Avos) say, “Ben Shloshim L’Ko’ach” – When one reaches the age of 30, he is at his full strength. May we all strengthen ourselves and those around us in the study of Rambam and receive the strength and Brachos from the learning of the Rambam.
In addition, this 30th completion of the Rambam will coincide with the tenth Siyum for those learning one chapter a day. This reminds us all of what the Rambam himself writes (Hilchos Para Aduma, Chapter three): “The 10th will be performed by the King Moshiach – may he speedily be revealed, Amen, so may be the will of Hashem!”
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://ylcrecording.weebly.com/moshiach-what-we-believe.html. Weekly video shiurim on Moshiach topics given by Rabbi Avtzon can be viewed at chabad.info.