What is chabad org daily chumash?

The Chabad.org Daily Chumash is a structured program for studying the Torah (Five Books of Moses) on a daily basis, following the weekly parasha (Torah portion) cycle aligned with the Jewish calendar. Each day of the week, a designated section of that week's parasha is studied, so that by Shabbat, the entire weekly portion has been covered. This system is rooted in a classical rabbinic tradition and is presented on Chabad.org with the Hebrew text, English translation, and Rashi's commentary.

Key Takeaways

The Daily Chumash divides each week's Torah portion into seven daily segments (one per day, Sunday–Saturday).
It is based on the ancient custom of completing the weekly parasha with its Rashi commentary before Shabbat.
Each day's study on Chabad.org includes the Hebrew text, English translation, and Rashi's commentary in full.
The program follows the annual Torah reading cycle, synchronized with the Jewish calendar.
It is rooted in a ruling by the Shulchan Aruch and is especially emphasized in Chabad-Lubavitch tradition.

Detailed Answer

The Halachic Basis: Shnayim Mikra v'Echad Targum

The foundation of this practice is the obligation known as shnayim mikra v'echad targum — literally "twice the scripture and once the translation."

The Talmud in [Berachot 8a-8b] states:

"A person should always complete the weekly Torah portion together with the congregation — reading the text twice and the Targum (Aramaic translation) once."

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 285:1–2) codifies this as halacha, stipulating that one should complete this review before Shabbat. Rashi's commentary is widely accepted as a valid substitute for Targum Onkelos (the classical Aramaic translation) for those who study it carefully [Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 285:2, and commentaries].

The Seven-Day Structure

The weekly parasha is traditionally divided into seven aliyot (portions), corresponding to the seven people called to the Torah on Shabbat morning. The Daily Chumash program maps these divisions onto the seven days of the week:

| Day | Aliyah | |-----|--------| | Sunday | First (Rishon) | | Monday | Second (Sheni) | | Tuesday | Third (Shlishi) | | Wednesday | Fourth (Revi'i) | | Thursday | Fifth (Chamishi) | | Friday | Sixth (Shishi) | | Shabbat | Seventh (Shvi'i) + Maftir |

Chabad-Lubavitch Emphasis

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement places particular emphasis on this daily study. The Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi), founder of Chabad, strongly encouraged the practice of daily Chumash study with Rashi in his Shulchan Aruch HaRav [Orach Chaim 285].

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, frequently emphasized that studying the daily Chumash portion with Rashi is not merely a custom but a binding obligation for every Jewish man, woman, and child, in accordance with each person's level of understanding.

What Chabad.org Provides

On Chabad.org, the Daily Chumash feature includes:

📖 The Hebrew text of the daily portion
🔤 A clear English translation
📝 Rashi's commentary translated into English
🎧 In many cases, audio readings
📅 Automatic alignment with the current Jewish calendar date

This makes it accessible to learners at all levels, from beginners to advanced students.

Connection to Broader Torah Study

This practice reflects a core Torah value: chazarah (review) and consistency. The Rambam (Maimonides) writes that Torah learning must be regular and structured [Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:8]. The Daily Chumash is one of the most practical ways to fulfill the mitzvah of Talmud Torah (Torah study) every single day.

For personal guidance on how to fulfill the obligation of shnayim mikra v'echad targum, consult your local rabbi or posek.