Victor Cohen
The obligation of shenayim mikra ve’ehad targum (or “shenayim mikra” for short) requires every Jew to read the weekly Torah portion twice in the original Hebrew, and once in translation – preferably, the ancient Aramaic translation by Onkelos. This requirement is established already by the Gemara and appears in the halachic codes. There is no question that this weekly reading must be part of every Jew’s regular Torah learning schedule.
Unfortunately, this obligation is neglected by many. Other beautiful regimented learning programs have gained widespread popularity – such as Daf Yomi, and daily lessons in certain halachic texts or in subjects such as emunah (faith). These are all wonderful and valuable initiatives – but they are not a clear halachic requirement like shenayim mikra. Ironically, the one learning schedule which constitutes an outright obligation is far less popular than learning programs which are not halachically required.
This phenomenon led a member of our community, Elad Danino, to launch an innovative program called Shnayim Yomi to encourage and help people fulfill this requirement. Founded in January 2020, Shnayim Yomi has succeeded in bringing shenayim mikra the attention it deserves. The program includes daily messages from distinguished rabbis around the world, and has now partnered with Artscroll to produce materials that help Jews all over successfully review the weekly Torah portion as halachah requires.
Earning Long Life
To appreciate the importance of this initiative, let us take a closer look at the sources of the shenayim mikra obligation.
It is first mentioned by the Gemara in Masechet Berachot (8a-b), which cites Rabbi Ami’s teaching that “a person must always complete his [study of the] Torah portions with the
congregation – twice reading, and once in translation.” The Gemara emphasizes that this obligation applies even to the verse in Parashat Matot (32:3) which consists entirely of names of places (“Atarot veDivon veYazer VeNimrah…”). Even though the Aramaic translation adds nothing to the understanding of the verse – since all the words in the verse are names of places – nevertheless, one should read this verse in translation. The Gemara says about one who fulfills this obligation, “ma’arichin lo yamav ushnotav” – he is rewarded with long life.
Accordingly, the Rambam (Hilchot Tefillah 13:25) writes that even a person who ensures to hear the Torah reading in the synagogue every Shabbat must, in addition, personally read the weekly parashah, twice in the original Hebrew, and once in translation. The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 285:1) likewise rules: “Although a person hears the entire Torah each week with the congregation, he is obligated each week to read for himself that week’s portion, twice reading and once in translation.” He adds that learning Rashi’s commentary instead of Onkelos’ translation satisfies the obligation, and that “a G-d-fearing person,” who strives for meticulousness in halachic observance, should read both Onkelos’ translation and Rashi’s commentary.
Why the Neglect?
The seeds of Shnayim Yomi were planted in a New York City subway car on January 1, 2020, while Elad was on his way to Barclays Center for the 13th Siyum Hashas. He was going to celebrate with thousands of other Jews from all backgrounds who successfully completed the rigorous, 7.5-year Daf Yomi cycle, finishing the entire Talmud by learning one page each day.
During the train ride, Elad was learning shenayim mikra ve’ehad targum, reviewing that week’s Torah portion. A fellow passenger remarked to Elad that he should be catching up on his Daf Yomi learning instead of learning the weekly parashah. Elad explained that he was fulfilling the shenayim mikra ve’ehad targum requirement, and he asked the other passenger whether he reviewed the parashah each week. The fellow said that he did not.
Surprised, Elad approached several other passengers in the subway car and asked them whether they learned shenayim mikra ve’ehad targum in addition to their daily Daf Yomi study, and they all answered in the negative.
Elad was astonished. How, he wondered, could a clear-cut halachic obligation be neglected by so many devout Torah Jews?
He kept asking, and kept receiving the same answer. He could not understand why people who learned a page of Gemara every single day did not fulfill the weekly obligation of shenayim mikra.
Elad then committed to bring more attention, and more enthusiasm and energy, to this weekly mitzvah. He started thinking about why so many people who devotedly learn Daf Yomi neglect the requirement of shenayim mikra, and he identified two primary reasons.
The first is a lack of a daily structure. Whereas the Daf Yomi program offers a clear, tangible daily goal, shenayim mikra is a weekly requirement, and the length of the portion varies considerably from one week to the next. It does not lend itself to a steady, consistent schedule like Daf Yomi does. The second reason is that there is no long-term, monumental goal to anticipate achieving. When one learns Daf Yomi, he periodically celebrates the completion of a masechet, usually with a large, festive meal featuring speeches by rabbis. And, of course, there is the major celebration even 7.5 years with the completion of the entire Talmud. No such celebrations are held for completing shenayim mikra – at least not as of January 2020.
Elad decided to build upon the Daf Yomi model to generate more enthusiasm for the weekly study of shenayim mikra. In order to do this, he needed daily programs, events, and incentives.
“I Love What You’re Doing”
Elad began with a daily program consisting of a two-to-three-minute “introduction to the aliyah” video from a rabbi, discussing one of the seven aliyot (sections) of the parashah to get viewers excited about the material they were about to read. It also provided a framework for a consistent, daily regimen. In addition, Elad arranged for joyous celebrations upon the completion of each of the five books of the Torah.
This undertaking began in October 2020 with 50 participants – Elad’s close friends, who immediately embraced the idea and happily jumped aboard, eager to fulfill their weekly obligation in such a special way. All these original 50 signups stuck with the program for the next several years.
“The first year was awesome,” Elad says, recalling how he received hundreds of messages thanking him for setting it up.
The momentum picked up in his second year, when a friend of Elad, who is well-known for supporting Torah study, joined and helped kick the Shnayim Yomi program into high gear.
This friend, Shlomie Bistritzk, approached Elad in the summer of 2021, shortly before the second year of Shnayim Yomi got underway.
“I love what you’re doing and want to be a part of it,” Shlomie said. He recommended giving a free set of Chumash with Rashi to anyone who could commit to learn shenayim mikra throughout the upcoming cycle.
Elad was somewhat startled by the suggestion, noting that this could be hundreds of people, incurring quite a heavy expense.
“Don’t worry about the numbers,” Shlomie assured him. “Just get commitments.”
In that second year, over 1,100 people from ten different cities signed up for the program. And it’s been growing consistently ever since.
This past year, Elad’s group saw 5,000 people completing the shenayim mikra cycle. He was able to get numerous high schools involved, calling principals and persuading them to bring this program to the students. The first 500 yeshiva high schoolers who came to the event received a free Chumash.
A Daily Dose of Inspiration
Each day, participants receive a two-minute video introducing that day’s aliyah, together with a PDF file with the day’s text to read. In addition, they watch a weekly video about the parashah, each week from a different rabbi. Elad estimates that some 150-200 rabbis have contributed to the project thus far. These include prominent figures such as Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, and Rabbi Reuven Feinstein (son of Hagaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l). Elad also brought to the project several rabbis with whom he was closely connected, such as Rabbi Eli Kadi, who teaches in Sitt Shul, and Rabbi Meir Kaplowitz.
The purpose of the daily videos is to get people excited for that day’s aliyah. To get a sampling of these inspirational talks, we present a transcription of Rabbi Goldwasser’s introduction to the first aliyah of Parashat Miketz, taken from 2021:
We learn a very interesting idea – that it happened to be at the end of two years. Those two years were added onto the end of Yosef Hatzadik’s prison sentence. He had to continue to languish in prison. Why? Because he trusted in the sar hamashkim [cupbearer]. All of a sudden, we learn that Pharaoh had a dream. Our mefarshim [commentators] tell us that immediately after he had the dreams, he summoned Yosef. Why? Because at the moment when a person is supposed to have their geulah, when they’re supposed to be redeemed, when all of their challenges are over, at that second, Hashem will deliver them.
Pharoah said he had two dreams. The first dream is that he was standing by the water. Suddenly, there were seven healthy cows that came out of the water and were grazing there. Immediately, seven other cows came out of the water– cows that were not healthy. The skinny cows devoured the healthy cows. Pharaoh woke up and then fell back asleep. In this dream, there were seven healthy stalks that came up. Immediately, there were also seven unhealthy stalks, and they took over the healthy stalks. Pharaoh couldn’t
understand it. He went to all his magicians, interpreters and advisors– nobody had a good answer for him. Until finally, Yosef Hatazadik comes. And Yosef– at the end of this aliyah – has been brought from the prison. They give him a haircut, and changed his clothes to appear before the melech [king].
The daily messages keep people connected to the parashah and inspire them to read that day’s portion. The preview they are shown draws them to read and learn the material, thereby helping them to consistently maintain their commitment each and every week.
Making a Recommitment
As mentioned, celebrations are held upon the completion of each of the five Humashim. Siyum festivities take place in a different city each time, and several were held in Brooklyn – the birthplace and “headquarters” of Shnayim Yomi. Other cities that hosted celebrations include Miami, LA, and even Ramat Beit Shemesh in Israel. The siyum events usually align with holidays, allowing for a great deal of creativity. Last year, an event was held in Hollywood, FL on Purim, which featured an event for kids, with a special class. As Shnayim Yomi is connected to so many rabbis – many of whom actively participate in the program – the events are usually cohosted by rabbis, and are given access to numerous synagogues worldwide.
Shnayim Yomi also holds a yearly kickoff event at the beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday night, October 19th, right after the Shabbat when the first parashah, Parashat Beresheet, is read, and will take place in Yad Yosef.
“I don’t do a siyum at the end [when the entire Torah is completed] because everyone does their own celebration on Simchat Torah,” Elad explains. “Doing a kickoff instead gives us a unique space to operate.”
Last year’s event received over 15,000 views on the livestream, with 200 people attending in-person. Over a dozen rabbis will be flying in from different places around the world for the event. The keynote speakers are Rabbi Reuven Feinstein and Rabbi Joey Haber, and the legendary Benny Friedman will be singing.
The key, as Rabbi Haber says, is for people to make a recommitment each year to the mitzvah of shenayim mikra. A large, emotional kickoff event is perfect for this goal. Additionally, on the Shabbat before the event, 150 synagogues around the world will take part in a project called SMASH – Shnyaim Mikra Awareness Shabbat, encouraging people to commit to shenayim mikra.
A Special Partnership
This year saw a special milestone for Shnayim Yomi, with the beginning of a collaboration with Artscroll. Rabbi Moshe Bamberger, author of the “Aliyah Summaries” feature in the Artscroll Chumash, urged Elad to produce a special Chumash for the reading of shenayim mikra. Elad approached Artscroll, who loved the idea and proceeded to create a book with a new English translation based on Onkelos. The Shnayim Yomi team was privileged to work with Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz, head of Artscroll, and the entire ArtScroll team – a special partnership that is providing a priceless service to the Jewish People. The publication has received the warm approval and blessings of HaRav Shmuel Kaminetzky, Rosh Yeshiva of the Philadelphia Yeshiva, and Hacham Yitzchak Yosef, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel. The first volume, on the book of Beresheet, is expected to hit the stores late September 2025 – just in time for the new Torah reading cycle.
“For years and years,” Elad says, “Artscroll has been thinking of producing a Shnayim Mikra Humash, and now they finally have the push to do it.” He added that this new publication will allow people to fulfill the “targum” component of the obligation with a clear English translation.
Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz said the following in praise of the Shnayim Yomi project:
Shnayim Yomi is a groundbreaking initiative that has inspired Jews worldwide to commit to the practice of learning and fulfilling the Mitzvah of Shnayim Mikra V’Echad Targum. Founded by Elad Danino, who has devoted his life to this sacred mission, the program features a roster of gifted Rabbis, who, each week, give a diverse and engaging approach to each week’s Parasha. Each day, participants receive a brief video focused on an aliyah from that week’s parashah, along with a powerful and thought-provoking insight. Sh’nayim Yomi hosts a Siyum at the conclusion of each Sefer of Chumash, in different cities, to celebrate what has been accomplished and motivate its continuity. The ArtScroll Shnayim Mikra is a natural extension of the vibrant and impactful Sh’nayim Yomi movement.
For more information about the Shnayim Yomi project and the kickoff event on October 19th, please visit https://shnayimyomi.org/.