What is daily rambam study?

Daily Rambam study (Rambam Yomi) is a structured program of learning the works of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides, 1138–1204) on a daily cycle, most famously instituted and promoted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, beginning in 1984. The program creates a unified global study schedule so that Jews worldwide complete the same Rambam text on the same day, finishing and restarting the cycle together each year.

Key Takeaways

Rambam Yomi was launched by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1984 as a program of daily, structured Maimonides study.
The primary text studied is the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides' comprehensive 14-volume code of Jewish law covering all 613 commandments.
There are three tracks: three chapters per day (completing in ~1 year), one chapter per day (~3 years), or daily study of the Sefer HaMitzvot (Book of Commandments).
The goal is achdut (unity) — Jews worldwide learning the same content simultaneously and completing the cycle together.
The Rambam's Mishneh Torah is uniquely suited for this because it systematically covers the entirety of Jewish law and thought.

What Is Rambam Yomi?

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (the Rambam), also known as Maimonides, was the preeminent medieval Jewish scholar, philosopher, and codifier of law. His two monumental works are:

Mishneh Torah — A 14-volume systematic code of all Jewish law, written in clear Mishnaic Hebrew
Sefer HaMitzvot — An enumeration and explanation of all 613 commandments

The Rambam himself states the goal of the Mishneh Torah in his introduction: that a person should be able to know the entire Oral Torah without needing to consult any other work.

The Three Daily Study Tracks

The Rebbe established three parallel tracks to accommodate different levels of commitment and learning ability:

Track 1: Three Chapters Per Day

Completes the entire Mishneh Torah (1,000 chapters) in approximately one year
The most ambitious track, for those who can dedicate significant daily time

Track 2: One Chapter Per Day

Completes the Mishneh Torah in approximately three years
More manageable for those with less time

Track 3: Sefer HaMitzvot

Studies the Sefer HaMitzvot (Book of Commandments) daily
Divided into daily portions covering the 613 mitzvot [Sefer HaMitzvot, Positive Commandments 1:1]
Pairs well with Track 1, as the Sefer HaMitzvot provides the philosophical and enumerative foundation for the laws studied in the Mishneh Torah

Why the Rambam?

Comprehensiveness

The Mishneh Torah covers all areas of Jewish law — including laws that are not currently practiced (like Temple service, agricultural laws of the Land of Israel, etc.). This means studying it connects a Jew to the totality of Torah, not just the practically relevant portions.

The 613 Commandments

The Rambam's Sefer HaMitzvot carefully enumerates all 613 mitzvot with his famous 14 principles for proper enumeration. One of the foundational commandments listed is belief in God's existence [Sefer HaMitzvot, Positive Commandment 1] — "אנכי ה' אלהיך" — "I am the Lord your God," which the Rambam considers the first and most fundamental of all commandments.

Philosophical Depth

The Mishneh Torah opens with Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah (Laws of the Foundations of the Torah) and Hilchot De'ot (Laws of Character Traits), grounding all of Jewish practice in theology and ethics. The Rambam's Guide for the Perplexed (Moreh Nevuchim) provides philosophical commentary on many of the laws' rationales — for example, explaining that sacrificial laws involving sheep and goats were partly to distance Israel from Egyptian and Sabean idol worship [Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3:46].

The Unifying Purpose

The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized that Rambam Yomi creates Jewish unity across all communities and backgrounds. Because the Mishneh Torah encompasses Sephardic and Ashkenazic law, practiced and unpracticed laws, and spans all of Jewish life, it is a common denominator for all Jews.

The Rebbe connected this to the verse: "וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֵת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" — "And you shall serve the Lord your God" [Exodus 23:25] — understanding Torah study itself as a form of Divine service that brings blessing and wholeness to the Jewish people.

How to Begin

The cycle restarts annually, typically around Rosh Chodesh Nissan (the anniversary of the program's launch)
Many siddurim, apps (like Chabad.org or Sefaria), and printed Mishneh Torah editions include the daily portion
Study can be done in Hebrew, English translation, or with classic commentaries like Kesef Mishneh (R. Yosef Karo) or Mishneh LaMelech

For personal guidance on which track to choose or how to integrate Rambam study into your daily schedule, consult your local rabbi or posek.