What should a Jew learn regularly?

Question

I am wondering what systems of structured Jewish learnings exist or alternatively how to build one. In a broader way what are existing/recognized Jewish learning curriculums or answers to “what should a Jew know/learn regularly”?

We know some partial answers

• “shnei mikra v’echad targum” - weekly review of the parsha of the week with its commentary (Onkelos / Rashi) - I know some try to learn every year another commentary on a revolving basis (e.g., Ramban, Baal Haturim)
• daf yomi
• Hitat (Chabad’s Humash, Tehilim, Tanya) - discussed here on MY
• Chabad’s (and others?) daily learning of Mishne Torah (1 chapter a day / 3 chapters a day)

But am I asking in a broader way. What should a Jew know and regularly learn? The answer is probably a combination of

• Humash: weekly review of parasha and commentary (what about midrash?)
• Tanakh: yearly review of rest of Tanakh
• Oral Law: daf yomi + review all mishna every 1/2/3 years?
• Halakha: regular review of Mishna Brura (e.g., Dirshu's Daf Yomi b'Halacha, see also here)
• Mussar: e.g., review on a revolving cycle of Mesilat Yesharim, Chovot Halelavot, etc.

What existing systems are you aware of? What are thoughts on this?

PS. I read (in his wife's biography) that R Chaim Kanievski has his own seder limud, completing every year Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi, Nach, Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Mishnah Berurah, Midrash Rabbah, Midrash Tanchumah, Sifra, Sifri and Tosefta. But I am looking for something for us normal humans...

Answer 1

In the most general sense, one is required to know the entire Torah, meaning both written and oral, revealed and hidden, each individual according to their unique capacity. It is an occupation which lasts over the entire course of ones physical life and beyond.

A very good English explanation of what one should learn regularly can be found at the following link. The main principles are there.

http://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Laws_of_Learning_Torah

It is important to note that in terms of actual practice, one should distinguish between someone who has been raised from the beginning according to the these requirements and someone who comes to learning later in life. The general rule for someone who starts later is to divide their study into thirds. This is discussed in detail by the Alter Rebbe in Hilchot Talmud Torah from Shulchan Aruch HaRav.

Particularly for someone who comes to learning later in life, they should pursue those areas where their personal interests are strongest. It doesn't mean to ignore other areas of Torah, but to develop the habit of learning regularly. This means ideally to set aside specific time, however long, each day, once in the morning and once at night when one will be occupied in Torah study. The emphasis is not on volume. It is on regularity.

If reading in Hebrew is preferred, this link is to Hilchot Talmud Torah from the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. The actual text runs from page 67 through 88 of the online document. An introduction precedes it and voluminous explanatory notes follow it.

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16009&st=&pgnum=67&hilite=

And these remaining links provide the continuation and completion of those explanatory notes to text.

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16073&st=&pgnum=1

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16061&st=&pgnum=1

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=16070&pgnum=1

Answer 2

I had the privilege to discuss this question in person with R Ephraim Buchwald who founded/leads the National Jewish Outreach Program and has personally directly taught thousands of Jews and indirectly hundreds of thousands through his teaching programs.

His answer was

• Parsha hashavua with Rashi
• the rest of Tanakh
• gemara
• Halakha, e.g., Rambam's daily study of Mishne Torah
• Jewish philosophy, e.g., the Kuzari, R Kook, R Soloveichik
• Jewish history, e.g., we discussed R Berel Wein, Paul Johnson, or understanding the history of the day
• Possibly hassidut, e.g., Tanya

He commented on the importance of learning biblical Hebrew and in particular Hebrew grammar (dikduk) in order to understand the original text.

Answer 3

R Yehuda Greenwald wrote a small booklet called "Torah study" under the direction of R Shlomo Wolbe (I have it in French, it is part of this larger book).

He suggests there a daily program for working people

• Humash: one alya from the daily parasha with Rashi
• Halakha: Orach Chaim
• Gemara: (before that to cover all six orders of the Mishna) then major focus on gemara
• Emuna (he names Kuzari, Derekh Hashem, Daat Tvunot, Sefer Haikarim, Nefesh HaChaim)
• Musar (he names Shaarei Tshuva, Chovot Halevavot, Mesilat Yesharim, R Yona on Pirkei Avot and Mishlei or more recent works such as Michtav me-Eliyahu, Lev Eliyahu, Or Yahel, Sihot Mussar from R Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz, Ale Shur ) or Hassidut as per the individual's preference

He writes the proportions depend on the individual but someone who would only have an hour a day should primarily focus on halacha, from two hours and on he recommends 50-60% of the time dedicated to gemara, the rest to the other disciplines.

Finally he insists on the importance of getting advice from a learned rav that knows the person well.

Answer 4

The Alei Shor written by Rav Volbe outlines 4 things every Jew should have 'in their back pocket':

The first he says, is to know clearly all of Shulchan Aruch Mishnah Berurah.

The second thing he says, to secure inside yourself the Chumash, with a wide understand of Rashi and Ramban.

The third thing he says is to acquire a firm grip on Pirkei Avos with the commentary of specifically Rabeinu Yonah (he says that no other commentary's word come so close to the heart as Rabeinu Yonah's).

The fourth and final thing he says, is to acquire a firm grip on the Mesilas Yesharim. With these 4 things, a son of Yisrael can become the image of a "True Jew" (יהודי האמיתי).

Answer 5

A great learning program to finish the entire Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in one year can be found here: https://kitzuryomi.org/ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch pretty much covers all the Halachos a Frum Yid NEEDS to know