Chumash

Welcome to Chumash

It all started when G-d gave Moses the Torah atop Mount Sinai, gifting the Jewish nation with the power and responsibility of the written word of G-d.

The Torah is divided into 5 books and 54 portions (one for each week, although some are doubled up—more on that later). These 5 books are known as the Chumash (similar to chamesh, the Hebrew word for the number 5), and the weekly portions are split into daily study sections.

The Chumash is accompanied by Rashi, a commentary by Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), one of the most influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. Your Chayenu includes Rashi’s commentary as well.

When Should you Learn Chumash?

Every year, we complete a circuit of study of all 5 books of the Chumash and their commentary via the daily study process. This cycle begins and ends on Simchat Torah, the Holiday celebrating the Torah and everything that comes with it.

According to this cycle, the Chumash, along with Rashi’s commentary, should be studied every day, ideally immediately after morning prayers.

Can’t get to it first thing in the morning? Don’t worry: you can study or recite it at any point during the day.

How do you Learn Chumash?

The weekly Torah portion (the parsha) is divided into aliyahs, or sections, with the first aliyah studied on Sunday, the second on Monday, and so on.

Here’s where it gets just a little bit complicated: Sometimes, two Torah parshas are read on a specific Shabbat. In that case, your Chayenu will include both of them, divided among the days of the week.

There are also weeks when the Shabbat Torah portion is deferred till later, due to Shabbat and holidays coinciding. When that happens, we will continue studying the same parsha for two or sometimes even three consecutive weeks in a row.

Reap the Benefits of Chumash

The commentary of Rashi on the Chumash is ‘the wine of the Torah.’ It unlocks the heart and reveals one’s essential love and fear for G-d.
— The Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, HaYom Yom, 30 Shevat

Studying a section of Chumash every day with the commentary of Rashi activates and reveals the light in the soul, which is a glow of the revelation of Mashiach.
— Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Kovetz Lubavitch, Booklet 7, p. 24.

Studying Chumash every day is considered to be a segula (spiritual remedy) for good luck. The third Chabad Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, once advised a man who complained of difficulties, to learn Chumash with Rashi as a protection against misfortune.
— (ibid.)

Practice of the Sages, Throughout the Ages

Rashi shared that it was the custom of the early sages to remain in the synagogue after morning prayers to study the Chumash.
—Shibolei Haleket

Rabbi Isaac Luria (commonly known as the Arizal) would study a daily portion of the weekly parsha while wearing his tallit and tefillin.
—Shaar Hamitzvot, Parshat Vaetchanan

Chabad Chassidim have a tradition that was passed down the generations and was originally instituted by the Alter Rebbe, to study a daily section of the weekly sedra (Torah portion) of Chumash with Rashi. This was also done by the [Chabad] Rebbes.
—HaYom Yom, 19 Tevet

Chumash in Your Chayenu — Video

Chumash in Your Chayenu