Chayenu (
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...
: חַיֵּינוּ ) is a weekly
subscription-based publication dedicated to facilitating daily
Torah study
Torah study is the study of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature, and similar works, all of which are Judaism's Sifrei kodesh, religious texts. According to Rabbinic Judaism, the study is done for the purpose of the ''mi ...
through established learning cycles founded in 2009 in
Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, specifically targeting individuals engaged in the study of ''
Chitas'', an acronym for
Chumash
Chumash may refer to:
*Chumash (Judaism), a Hebrew word for the Pentateuch, used in Judaism
*Chumash people, a Native American people of southern California
*Chumashan languages, Indigenous languages of California
See also
* Pentateuch (dis ...
,
Tehillim, and
Tanya. Chayenu is published by the
nonprofit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
company Chayenu, Inc.
History
The emphasis on daily Torah study, particularly the study of Chitas, was initiated by
Chabad
Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...
's
Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. In the 1960s, the
Lubavitcher Rebbe
Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch (; ; ), is a dynasty in Hasidic Judaism. Belonging to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) branch of Orthodox Judaism, it is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements, as well as one of ...
, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn called for a widespread
campaign to encourage Jews in and out of the
Chabad-Lubavich movement to engage in daily study of Chitas.
on
Shabbat
Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...
in the year 1967 (5727), the Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized the importance of Chitas as well as introducing study of
Mishneh Torah
The ''Mishneh Torah'' (), also known as ''Sefer Yad ha-Hazaka'' (), is a code of Rabbinic Jewish religious law (''halakha'') authored by Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon/Rambam). The ''Mishneh Torah'' was compiled between 1170 and 1180 CE ( ...
, a work created by
Maimonides
Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides (, ) and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (), was a Sephardic rabbi and Jewish philosophy, philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah schola ...
.
In 2009 Chayenu was established by Mendel Goldman and Louis Perlman, who aimed to make Chitas Mishneh Torah and other daily study cycles study more accessible by creating weekly booklets and translating segments into English.
On October 19, 2016, the Chayenu
mobile app
A mobile application or app is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a smartphone, phone, tablet computer, tablet, or smartwatch, watch. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop appli ...
was released serving as a digital extension of the weekly Chayenu publication, providing users with the same content as the printed format without the weekly subscription.
Contents
''Chitas'' this consists of three components:
# The
Chumach (Pentateuch) Cycle: A one-year cycle of 54 weekly Parshiot (sections of the Pentateuch) and additional sections for Jewish holidays and fast days, with seven daily aliyot (sections of the Parsha) read at the end of each week on Shabbat and the previous week on Monday and Thursday.
# The
Tehillim (Psalms) Cycle: A monthly cycle containing 30 daily readings of Psalms, usually read after the Jewish morning prayer.
# The
Tanya Cycle: A one-year cycle of sections from the book of Tanya, compiled by Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.
''Rambam'' this is split into three levels of effort:
# The 3-Chapter Level: A one-year cycle of 3 daily chapters from the books of Maimonides, this is the hardest level.
# The 1-Chapter Level: A three-year cycle of 1 daily chapter from the books of Maimonides, this is the middle level.
# The
Sefer Hamitzvot
''Sefer Hamitzvot'' ("Book of Commandments", ; ) is a work by the 12th-century rabbi, philosopher, and physician, Moses Maimonides. While there are various other works titled similarly, the title "''Sefer Hamitzvot''" without a modifier refers ...
(Daily
commandment
Commandment may refer to:
* The Ten Commandments
* One of the 613 mitzvot of Judaism
* The Great Commandment
* The New Commandment
* Commandment (album), ''Commandment'' (album), a 2007 album by Six Feet Under
* Commandments (film), ''Commandments' ...
) Level: A short daily rundown of the
613 commandments
According to Jewish tradition, the Torah contains 613 commandments ().
Although the number 613 is mentioned in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval rabbinic literature, including many works listing or arranged by the . Th ...
based on the schedule of the 3-Chapter Level; this is the easiest level.
''
Hayom Yom'' this is a daily guidebook of Chabad teachings and customs, originally compiled by the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Shneurson
''Inyanei Geulah u'
Moshiach'' this is a collection of teachings focusing on the coming of
Messiah in Judaism
The Messiah in Judaism () is a savior and liberator figure in Jewish eschatology who is believed to be the future redeemer of the Jews. The concept of messianism originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible a messiah is a king or High Priest ...
and the Redemption period, emphasizing the importance of faith and the actions necessary to bring about this era according to
Rabbinic literature
Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire corpus of works authored by rabbis throughout Jewish history. The term typically refers to literature from the Talmudic era (70–640 CE), as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic ...
and Hasidic philosophy Daily Wisdom this is a collection of daily insight based on Torah teachings and
Chassidic philosophy
Hasidic philosophy or Hasidism (), alternatively transliterated as Hasidut or Chassidus, consists of the teachings of the Hasidic movement, which are the teachings of the Hasidic ''rebbes'', often in the form of commentary on the Torah (the Five ...
by
Chabad House Publications
Distribution
Chayenu has three weekly distributions. The Chayenu magazine, the Chayenu-3 magazine (includes the 3 chapter level of Rambam instead of the 1 chapter level and ''Sefer Hamitzvot level)'', and the Chayenu app which is all of Chayenu's daily study contents digitally.
The Chayenu publiocation is a subscription based booklet priced 21
United States Dollars
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
for Chayenu and 25 United States Dollars for Chayenu3 with infrequent discounts offered for students studying in
Yeshiva
A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The stu ...
.
[{{Cite web , date=August 13, 2018 , title=Chayenu Offers Yeshiva Discount , url=https://collive.com/chayenu-offers-yeshiva-discount/ , website=COLLive] while the Chayenu app does not require a weekly subscription.
Chayenu and Chayenu3 magazine are shipped weekly by The
Crown Heights Shipping & Copy Center
References
Torah study
Chabad magazines