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More than a scholarly work or a collection of oral commentary on the Biblical text, “Hok” has been a way of life for generations of Jews throughout the world. “Hok” divides each of the weekly portions into a daily study regimen containing the Torah text, the Aramic translation Onkelos, a portion from the Nevi’im, another from Ketuvim, followed by a passage from each of the following Oral works: The Mishna, Talmud, Zohar, Mussar and Halacha. The comprehensive yet exceedingly achievable system of daily study was established by the great master of Halacha and Kabbalah, the ARIZAL, in order that Jews of every background and level of scholastic achievement study the same texts every day and thereby gain a mastery of every part of the Written and Oral portion of the Torah. The great [Sephardic sage] HIDAH [who added the daily Mussar and Halacha portions] also stresses the great importance of the study of the Hok regimen each and every day. In fact, Jews in every part of the world held steadfast to this system of study, which has only recently become weakened in the current generation due to a lack of Hebrew comprehension. The translation of many major subjects has had a profound impact on Jewish life by affording many of us the opportunity to reach into the great reservoir of Torah. It is for this reason that I applaud and endorse this new and noble undertaking of the translation of Hok into English. By doing so, the worthy publishers will provide English-speaking Jews with the ability and opportunity to gain a vast treasure of Torah knowledge and a real appreciation for the depth, breadth and beauty of Torah through daily doses of study of moderate duration. It is my belief that through this project, “Hok” study can once again become a prevalent custom among our own generation and thereby restore the glory of the Arizal’s magnificent contribution to the Jewish people. It is my fervent wish and prayer that by restoring this concept of universal, daily Torah study to the Jewish people we will merit the speedy arrival of Mashiah, Amen. Excerpted from a letter written by the Bostoner Rebbe Shlita in 1992 About the Hok Available at local Jewish bookstores A project of Machon Yisrael Trust Distributed by Im Hasefer 718-377-0047 *Hok L’Yisrael is translated to mean “the daily sustenance [bread] of the Jewish nation”. This use of the word “hok” to mean bread or sustenance can be traced back to Parashat Vayigash: “K i hok l’kohanim me’et Paraoh – For the priests had a daily food allotment from Pharaoh.” (Bereshit 47:22)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Kosher for Passover BREAD?!*