(Courtesy of Artscroll) One of the most monumental ideas in the Torah world of the past century was proposed toward the end of the first Knessiah Gedolah in Vienna at the beginning of Elul in 1923, when Rav Meir Shapiro announced the concept of Daf Yomi, suggesting that Jews the world over study the same daf of Gemara daily, completing Shas in a cycle of seven-plus years. The proposal was accepted by many gedolim of the time and Daf Yomi was launched shortly thereafter on Rosh Hashanah, with many beginning their journey through Talmud Bavli. The first Siyum Hashas took place on Tu B’Shevat in 1931.
In 1933, in the middle of the second cycle of Daf Yomi, Rav Meir Shapiro passed away suddenly at the young age of 46. In 1934, on the seventh of Adar, another significant idea related to Torah learning was proposed at a meeting of gedolim in Lublin. In addition to the Daf Yomi cycle, it was proposed, the Mishnah, specifically the sections on which there is no Gemara, should be studied daily. The initial idea was for everyone to learn one Mishnah daily. The purpose of this initiative was so that the next Siyum Hashas, which was to take place in 1938, would be on all six sedarim of Shas.
This additional learning program was proposed by the Kozoglover Gaon, Rav Aryeh Tzvi Frommer, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. Various gedolim of the time, such as the rebbes of Sochatchov and Ger, accepted Rav Frommer’s proposal. The proposal was connected to Daf Yomi, as it was reported that Rav Meir Shapiro had indeed expressed great interest in adding these parts of Mishnah—specifically Seder Zeraim and Seder Taharos—to the Daf Yomi cycle. A Mishnah Yomi calendar was printed, and the exact dates of the learning cycle even appeared in some newspapers of the time, listing the Mishnah Yomi schedule.
In 1938, as the winds of war began blowing across Europe, Rav Frommer addressed the Siyum Hashas, delivered a lengthy drasha in which he mentioned the significance of everyone learning Mishnayos.
In 1947, following the destruction experienced by klal Yisrael during World War II, Rav Yonah Sztencl, a rav in Tel Aviv and a talmid of Rav Frommer, recommended adding to the program, building on Rav Frommer’s proposal. He suggested that everyone should learn a cycle of all of Shisha Sidrei Mishnah, especially as many people found it difficult to keep to the Daf Yomi schedule. This proposal, to learn two Mishnayos each day, was then endorsed by Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, the Tchebiner Rov, the Gerer Rebbe, and many others.
Mishnah Resources
New Shiurim
Excitement is building as we approach the new Mishnah Yomi cycle. Many Daf Yomi maggidei shiur have already committed to making Mishnah Yomi part of their daily shiur, and dozens of schools have arranged to have their students join the learning of Mishnah Yomi for the new cycle.
ArtScroll’s 30% Off Sale
In honor of the new cycle, ArtScroll is offering 30% off all its Mishnayos sets and individual volumes in the Schottenstein Elucidated Mishnah, Ryzman Hebrew Mishnah, and Yad Avraham series. Visit artscroll.com/mishnah-yomi.html for more information.
Free Mishnayos and Calendar
Ki Haim Chayeinu is sponsoring thousands of copies of pocket-size Maseches Brachos of the Schottenstein Elucidated Mishnah and Ryzman Hebrew Mishnah for those who commit to learn Mishnah Yomi. Pick up these free Mishnayos in person at your local Judaica store or order them online at artscroll.com/mishnahyomi. You can also order or download a free daily Mishnah Yomi calendar for Seder Zeraim or for the full cycle at www.artscroll.com/mishnahyomi.
ArtScroll Digital Library
The ArtScroll Digital Library/Wasserman Digital Initiative provides all of Mishnah in the palm of your hands! Designed for your digital device, you can download the Schottenstein Elucidated Mishnah and Ryzman Hebrew Mishnah and experience features including phrase-by-phrase translation, explanatory notes, over 100,000 hyperlinks, and a Mishnah Yomi tracker. In honor of the start of the new cycle, the ArtScroll Digital Library is offering a free download of Maseches Brachos. Download the Digital Library Mishnah at artscroll.com/mishnahyomi.
All Mishnah App
The Orthodox Union, whose All Daf app has enhanced the Daf Yomi learning of so many, is now launching its brand-new All Mishnah app, a perfect companion for learning Mishnah Yomi, containing all of Mishnah with ArtScroll’s Yad Avraham translation, as well as shiurim, videos, explanatory resources, and a Mishnah Yomi tracker. The All Mishnah app will be available for download shortly.
All in Under 10 Minutes a Day!
- Perfect daily learning program for people of all ages and backgrounds
- Opportunity to bond with your child or grandchild as you study together
- Learn Zeraim and Taharos, which are not studied in the Daf Yomi cycle
- Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment as you complete a seder of Mishnah every year
Join Mishnah Yomi today…and complete all of Mishnah in under six years! Visit www.artscroll.com/mishnahyomi for all your Mishnah Yomi-related resources.
