The Seder ha-Mishmarah is a study cycle devised by the Rabbi Yosef Hayyim and used by some Mizrahi Jews (Jews originating in the Muslim world) for reading the whole of the Hebrew Bible and the Mishnah over a year. It depends on the cycle of the weekly Torah portions read in the synagogue.
Some communities have a custom of public reading, whereby on each Shabbat afternoon, the whole of the mishmarah for the following Shabbat is read aloud. In others, individuals use it as a basis for private study. The usual form of the cycle is set out in the table below.
Weekly Torah portion Nevi'im Ketuvim Mishnah Bereshit, Gen. Joshua Psalms Ḥagigah Noaḥ, Gen. Joshua Psalms Kinnim Lekh Lekha, Gen. Joshua Psalms Ma'aserot and Ma'aser Sheni Vayera, Gen. Judges Psalms Pe'ah Ḥayye Sarah, Gen. Judges Psalms Kiddushin Toledot, Gen. I Samuel Psalms Berakhot Vayetze, Gen. I Samuel Psalms Ketubot Vayishlaḥ, Gen. I Samuel Psalms Mo'ed Katan and Horayot Vayeshev, Gen. I Samuel , II Samuel Psalms Yevamot Mikketz, Gen. II Samuel Psalms Mikva'ot Vayigash, Gen. II Samuel Psalms Kelim Vayḥi, Gen, I Kings Psalms Bekhorot Shemot, Ex. I Kings Psalms Ta'anit and Megillah Va'era, Ex. I Kings Job Makkot Bo, Ex. I Kings to II Kings Job Nega'im Beshallaḥ, Ex. II Kings Job Eruvin Yitro, Ex. II Kings Job Pirke Avot and Avodah Zarah Mishpatim, Ex. II Kings Job Bava Kamma Terumah, Ex. Jeremiah Job Middot Teṣawweh, Ex. Jeremiah Job Tevul Yom Ki Tissa, Ex. Jeremiah Esther Sheqalim Vayakhel, Ex. Jeremiah Song of Songs Shabbat Pekude, Ex. Jeremiah Proverbs Tohorot and Yadayim Vayiqra, Lev. Jeremiah Proverbs Zevaḥim Ṣaw, Lev. Ezekiel Proverbs Menaḥot Shemini, Lev. Ezekiel Proverbs Ḥullin Tazriaʿ, Lev. Ezekiel Proverbs Niddah Metzora, Lev. Ezekiel Proverbs Zavim Aḥare Mot, Lev. Ezekiel Proverbs Keritot Qedoshim, Lev. Ezekiel Daniel Orlah Emor, Lev. Ezekiel Daniel Betzah and Yoma Behar, Lev. Ezekiel Daniel Shevi'it Bəḥuqqoṯay, Lev. Ezekiel Daniel Arakhin Bemidbar, Num. Isaiah Ezra Makhshirin Naso, Num. Isaiah Ruth Nazir and Sotah Bəhaʿalot̲ək̲ā, Num. Isaiah Ezra Tamid Shelaḥ Lekha, Num. Isaiah Nehemiah Ḥallah Qoraḥ, Num. Isaiah Nehemiah Terumot Ḥukkat, Num. Isaiah I Chronicles Parah Balaq, Num. Isaiah I Chronicles Oholot Pinḥas, Num. Isaiah I Chronicles Bava Batra Mattot, Num. Isaiah I Chronicles Nedarim Masse, Num. Isaiah I Chronicles Eduyot Devarim, Deut. Isaiah Lamentations Bava Metzia Va'etḥhannan, Deut. Isaiah II Chronicles Shevu'ot Ekev, Deut. Hosea II Chronicles Kil'ayim Re'eh, Deut. Hosea II Chronicles Pesaḥim , Rosh Hashanah and Sukkah Shofetim, Deut. Hosea II Chronicles Sanhedrin Ki Tetze, Deut. Joel and Amos II Chronicles Gittin Ki Tavo, Deut. Obadiah , Jonah and Micah II Chronicles Biqqurim Nitzavim, Deut. Nahum , Habakkuk , Zephaniah and Haggai II Chronicles Me'ilah Vayelekh, Deut. Zechariah Ecclesiastes Demai Haazinu, Deut. Zechariah Ecclesiastes ʿUqṣim Wəzot̲ habBərāk̲ā, Deut. Malachi Ecclesiastes Temurah
This cycle is unrelated to that for Chok l'Yisrael, which is a study cycle based on the works of Hayyim ben Joseph Vital and revised by Chaim Joseph David Azulai. This too is often published in book form and is widely popular among Near and Middle Eastern Jews. Differences between the two are: The Seder ha-Mishmarah does not include Targum or commentaries on the Torah portion; Chok l'Yisrael includes both; Chok l'Yisrael does not include the whole of Nevi'im, Ketuvim or the Mishnah, and does not present the excerpts in a continuous order through the year; Chok l'Yisrael also includes excerpts from the Talmud, the Zohar and works of Jewish law and morality; Chok l'Yisrael is designed for daily rather than weekly reading.
Other uses In Mishnaic Hebrew mishmarah (or mishmeret) means a "watch", that is to say a division of the night (usually one-third). In Temple times, a mishmar (or mishmarah) also referred to a group of priests whose turn it was to officiate.
In addition to the study cycle described above, the term mishmarah is used for a nocturnal prayer or study session preceding a celebration such as a wedding or a Brit milah or a festival such as Hoshana Rabba or following a death. This usage was derived either from the above meaning as a watch in the night or from the practice of watching over a corpse. However, by folk etymology the word is sometimes interpreted as a portmanteau of "Mishnah" and "Gemara", to refer to the texts studied.isaacazose.com See also Other study cycles under Torah study #Study cycles
External links and references Endnotes
References and external links Ḥoq le-Ya'aqov, which sets out all the readings in book form Table at end of Tefillat Yesharim (Iraqi prayer book) Mishmarah tab on http://www.pizmonim.org website