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Learning Mishnah daily: Start the new cycle on Shabbat

Translation by Yehoshua Siskin

I am a freak when it comes to learning in the form of a small daily portion. So here is an opportunity to do just that: This Shabbat marks the end, and also the beginning, of the "Daily Mishnah" project. You learn two Mishnahs a day for five and a half years, completing the six orders of the Mishnah during that time. Ayala Levy, a teacher in the Lamerchav school, writes as follows:

"12 years ago I was a girl in Sherut Leumi (national or community service) and I thought to myself that I was capable of learning two Mishnahs a day. This week I will be completing the six orders of the Mishnah for the second time. I am now married and the mother of three. I did not always manage to learn every day and I sometimes had to catch up on what I missed, but the feeling has been wonderful.

When I try to summarize this study, I am inspired by how the Mishnah relates to every detail of our lives: from the food that you put into your mouth to the words that come out of your mouth, from basic daily tasks to the worship of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur, from the torn strap of a sandal to the qualifications of a red heifer. This teaches me how the worship of HaShem is all encompassing and involves each passing moment of our lives, no matter where we are or what we are doing.

The Mishnah also provides me with an understanding of the full Jewish life that awaits us when the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, in comparison to which our current lives seem so small and limited.

Above all, I have learned about perseverance. We are talking about studying 5-15 minutes every morning. It's even possible to learn together with the kids. There are apps for the daily Mishnah (search: Kehati), each portion of which is short, concise, and clearly written. Yet the fact that I choose to persevere in learning Mishnah every day is most meaningful for me."

Mazal tov to Ayala and everyone else who is finishing the Mishnah. You have given me the desire to try this daily learning experience. On Shabbat morning we begin the tractate of Berachot, chapter one, Mishnahs one and two.

Shabbat Shalom.

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