HOW TO CHITAS

HOW TO CHITAS

When should I say Chitas? In what order? What if I can’t do it all at once, and, oops... what if I missed a day? + A list of resources and “ways to Chitas”

On Schedule

One may study the various sections of Chitas in whichever order he prefers. 11 However, it is important to study all sections on the scheduled day.

The Rebbe constantly echoed a tradition received from the Alter Rebbe (Ba’al HaTanya) that we should “live with the times” in a spiritual sense, extracting practical lessons from the daily portion of Chumash and Rashi and viewing them as sent by divine providence to guide and inspire our personal service of G-d at the present time. In his many addresses and letters, the Rebbe frequently extracted such lessons as timely guidance for individuals or Jewry as a whole. He also extended this directive to the other sections of Chitas.

Timing Options

“The daily portion of Chumash with Rashi, and similarly, the portions of Tehillim and Tanya, should be studied on the appropriate day and not pushed off to the following day, for the lesson of each day is strongly associated with that specific day.” ¹²

— Likkutei Sichos, vol. 8, p. 199 13

A Morning Routine

The most appropriate time of day to study Chitas is in proximity to shacharis, the morning service.

Ironically, although the acronym “Chitas” was coined with traditional deference to the chronological order of its contents – Chumash, followed by Tehillim and then Tanya – many study these portions in precisely the reverse, but more practical, sequence:

The Tanya section is commonly studied first, in preparation for the morning service, in keeping with the widely observed practice of studying Chassidic teachings for the sake of reflecting on G-d’s greatness, and the like, before approaching G-d in prayer each morning.

Even more common is the practice of recite the daily Tehillim immediately following the morning prayers, as the concluding segment of that service. It is recited by the entire congregation and then followed by the mourner’s kaddish. This is in keeping with an enactment of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, intending for all Jewry, to hasten and ease the process of Moshiach’s arrival.17

Finally, our Sages recommended studying Torah immediately after praying in the morning. It is therefore common to study the daily Chumash portion at that time.

Nevertheless, these practices are non-official, and Chitas can be studied in any sequence.

“Regarding the study of Chumash with Rashi ... it is self-understood that it is preferable [to study it] in close proximity to the morning service – and even better, in immediate proximity.”

— Igros Kodesh, vol. 17, p. 146.

“Tehillim, after morning prayers.”

— Introduction to HaYom Yom

“It is self-understood that it is preferable to study the daily lesson of Tanya in close proximity to the morning service – and even better in immediate proximity.”

— Igros Kodesh, vol. 17, ibid.

Chitas FAQs

  • It may not always be possible to study Chitas in the morning. In that case, anytime in the day will work just fine. Moreover, the study can be split into segments to match one’s personal schedule.

    This conclusion is borne out of replies offered by the Rebbe to inquiries regarding the timing of Chitas:

    “On short winter days, you are occupied with your job and you doubt that you will have sufficient time to complete the allotted portions of Chumash ... [during the day]. You wonder whether you should study it at night. Well, regarding Chumash ... you needn’t study it all at once. Rather, you can split the daily portion into [smaller] sections and learn it throughout the course of the day. Understandably, this can be done at your place of business.” 18

    “It is best to recite [the daily] Tehillim immediately after the morning service. However, if [doing so] will disturb the morning seder ha-yeshivah [strict Yeshivah study schedule], the Tehillim should be recited during breaks [later in the day, provided it is completed] before sunset. In any case, you should recite at least one chapter immediately following the morning service, so that there will be some form of recital of Tehillim immediately after praying.” 19

  • Despite the importance of studying Chitas on its scheduled day, life pressures or even plain forgetfulness may cause one to realize too late that he neglected his daily portions. When that happens, the Rebbe instructed, “He can and must complete it at night.” 20 Actually, the Rebbe quotes this as an explicit directive of the initiator of the daily Chitas, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch:

    “It is possible to make up for missed portions of the previous day’s Chitas during the night [that immediately follows].” 21

    Like many matters of halachah, it appears that it is preferable – though not essential – to compensate for whatever was missed during the day in the first half of the night, before the halachic hour of midnight. 22 Thus, the Rebbe calls for compensating the study “until midnight, or even until the crack of dawn.” 23

    Failing that, one should compensate for a missed day of Chitas at the earliest opportunity during the same week – the next day, 24 “during the subsequent days,” 25 or “the remainder of that week.” 26

    It would seem appropriate to avoid reciting the daily Tehillim during the first half of the night. 27 This concern does not apply to Chumash. 28

  • One who is faced with the obligation of studying the daily portion as well as the portion he failed to study on the previous day, should take heed of the following directive:

    “When compensating for missed portions of Chitas, it is obvious that yesterday’s [missed] portion should be studied first, for it is appropriate to maintain the correct order and to avoid studying Chapter Two before Chapter One.” 29

A Telling Story

Reb Sholom Deitsch entered the Rebbe’s room for Yechidus, and the Rebbe asked him if he is particular about his study of Chitas. Reb Sholom responded that he studies the daily Chumash and recites the daily Tehillim; Tanya, however, he doesn’t understand. To which the Rebbe suggested that he buy a Tanya with a (Yiddish) translation so that he will understand the Tanya better.

Vayehi Ish Matzliach (the life of Reb Zalman Yuda Deitsch), p. 37

Reading vs Understanding

Verbalization

In order to be considered studying any part of Torah, its words must be verbalized. Only in the case that this is medically impossible or extremely challenging can its words be recited mentally, as per the Rebbe’s suggestion to a patient who was proscribed from reciting texts, “... then perhaps – with the doctors’ consent – he can recite them mentally.” 30

Comprehension

Verbalization does not necessarily include comprehension, in which there is a distinction between the Written Torah (the twenty-four books of Tanach) and the Oral Torah (the Mishna, Talmud, and works of the Rabbis across history). One who reads the books of Tanach without understanding their contents has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation to study Torah. This is certainly not the case with Rabbinical works, for which comprehension is essential to its study.

Comprehending Chitas

Chitas contains segments from both Tanach and Rabbinical writings:

  • Chumash: Although Chumash on its own may be read without understanding, this daily portion should be studied and understood, especially its accompanying commentary of Rashi that belongs to the Oral Torah.

  • Tehillim: It is not necessary for one to understand the words of Tehillim in order to recite them.

  • Tanya: This daily portion presents a particular challenge. It belongs entirely to the Oral Torah that must be comprehended if it to be considered studying at all. At the same time, many find it too profound or its terminology too unfamiliar or esoteric to comprehend on their own.

For the sake of studying the daily Chitas, “It is not necessary that it should be understood profoundly, but rather that one should simply read and study the text [on a most basic level].” 31

Reading Tanya Even Without Understanding

It is entirely possible that even a basic understanding of the daily Tanya may prove challenging. In the following excerpt, the Rebbe addresses this concern and offers surprising insight into the nature of the daily Chitas:

“Concerning Tanya, which a part of the Oral Torah, one might suggest that if he does not comprehend what he is reading , he is not considered studying at all – unlike the Written Torah, regarding which he fulfills the mitzvah of Torah Study even if he reads without understanding the basic meaning of the words. Consequently, one may suggest that the study of Tanya is irrelevant to the uninitiated who cannot comprehend its text.

“In truth, the study of daily Chitas – including Tanya – was established by the Leader of the Generation, who introduced it with the intention of including every person living in our generation. 32 Indeed, he emphasized that these daily studies are suitable for each individual, including people with limited understanding and those who cannot comprehend they words they are reading.”

“The reason for this inclusiveness is that the daily study of Chitas is not studied simply in order to fulfill each person’s personal obligation to study Torah. If that was the entire purpose of Chitas, then indeed, he who does not comprehend, has not fulfilled his obligation. Rather, Chitas has another purpose. It is a daily study design to positively influence the soul – even touching the very core of the soul! – of each Jewish individual living in our times without exception.

“In this, Chitas is similar to the custom [introduced by the Baal Shem Tov] whereby one recites [daily] the chapter of Tehilim that corresponds to his current age [ for his personal benefit]. It is not important to comprehend the words of the psalm. He must merely verbalize its words [in order to achieve the intended benefit].

“This is also a response to those who refrain from studying Tanya, offering a holy-sounding excuse 33that their [righteous] ancestors did not study Tanya, or that they are not on a sufficiently exalted spiritual level to study Tanya, or that they do not wish to fool themselves into imagining that they will understand the words of [Tanya’s author,] the Alter Rebbe. They go so far as to claim that not only would they be lying to themselves if they imagined they understood Tanya, but they also wish to defend the honor and reverence of the Alter Rebbe, by acknowledging that the Tanya has a depth that one cannot fathom.

“The answer [to these ostensibly righteous excuses] is this: You were born and are living in this present generation and all your excuses cannot altar this plain fact. Therefore, as a member of this present generation, you are associated with the Tanya and you need to study it, especially now that the Leader of the Generation has established a daily study of Tanya to be observed throughout the year, and has made this study pertinent to each and every individual person.”

Toras Menachem 5746, vol. 4, p. 143 (Matos-Maasei)

ALL THE WAY TO CHITAS?

SEE BELOW…

All The Ways To Chitas

With the plethora of options available today to deliver the Chitas experience, it can get confusing, and feel like yet another challenge. Here we’ve broken it down for you so you can find your own most convenient way to make Chitas a part of your life!

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WHAT IS CHITAS?

Chitas (Hebrew: חת"ת) is a Hebrew acronym for Chumash , Tehillim , and Tanya. These are considered basic Jewish texts.

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