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In Spring 2002, The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism introduced a second project devoted to daily Jewish learning. Mishnah Yomit, or "the daily mishnah," built on the success of Perek Yomi, which continues to involve Conservative Jews in ongoing Bible study.
Participants will learn one passage in the Mishnah each day, with the goal of learning an entire "order" of Mishnah in the course of a year. For those who prefer to study Tanakh, a second cycle of Perek Yomi began in April as well.
According to Joshua Kulp, author of the project’s study materials, "The Mishnah is the foundation book of Judaism, second only to the Torah, and it has ‘set the agenda’ for Jewish laws and customs."
Mishnah Yomit -- which seeks to make this rich text accessible and interesting to Conservative Jews of all backgrounds -- familiarizes participants with the Mishnah by asking them to learn one or two mishnayot per day.
Each day’s lesson includes an introduction to the mishnah in question, a translation, an explanation and questions for further thought. Participants also receive a brief introduction to the Mishnah, historical information, tips on how to learn the Mishnah, recommended reading lists, and answers to frequently asked questions.
As with the Perek Yomi project, the material is sent to participants via e-mail or as hard copy, and it also is available on the United Synagogue website, www.mishnahyomit.org. Participants may also join an online discussion list and might choose, as with Perek Yomi, to form local discussion groups, whether in their synagogues or in private homes.
Joshua Kulp has been associated with the United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem since its inception and previously served as its director. Since 1997, he has served on the Yeshiva faculty, teaching Mishnah and Talmud. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Talmud at University. According to Mr. Kulp, Mishnah study will prove particularly appealing to those who love to study and debate, since the text is comprised of "arguments" between rabbis, each trying to prove that he is correct. "Our job in studying Mishnah is to follow their reasoning, to understand the inherent logic in their positions," he notes.
Rabbi Jerome Epstein, USCJ Executive Vice President and creator of the Perek Yomi program, points out that "classical Jewish texts are often timeless because they speak to us today just as they influenced our ancestors thousands of years ago. The reading of Jewish texts has been a cherished value because learning is more than an academic exercise; it has an impact on our lives... To take Judaism seriously means to allow Jewish values and ideals to help shape our lives. This, in turn, requires that we devote more time and energy to learning and understanding Jewish sources. Without that ‘investment,’ we preclude the possibility of Judaism ever being meaningful to us."
Both Mishnah Yomit and the second cycle of Perek Yomi are now coordinated by Rabbi Paul Drazen, USCJ Chief Program Development Officer. For additional information, contact Rabbi Drazen at 212-533-7800, ext. 1018, or e-mail drazen@uscj.org.
Founded in 1913 by Dr. Solomon Schechter as the association of Conservative synagogues in North America. The United Synagogue serves as a resource to its affiliated congregations and works to formulate a Conservative Jewish response to pressing social and religious issues.
