Rabbi Meir Shapiro: The Visionary Behind the Daf Yomi (Daily Folio)

A Leader of Torah and a Builder of Institutions

This Friday, the 7th of Cheshvan, marks the 91st yahrzeit (anniversary of death) of Rabbi Yehuda Meir Shapiro (1887–1933), the chief rabbinical judge of Lublin and founder of Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin. Born in the town of Shotz in 1887, he rose to prominence as one of the great rabbinic leaders of prewar Poland.

In addition to his roles in Lublin, Rabbi Shapiro also served as president of Agudath Israel in Poland. He was also a member of the Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah and among the organization’s most influential voices. His crowning achievement was the founding of Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin, one of the most impressive spiritual centers of its time. After the establishment of the State of Israel, his remains were transferred and reinterred at Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.

Though he and his wife had no children, Rabbi Shapiro left behind a rich legacy: the global Daf Yomi (daily folio) initiative and a yeshiva whose name still resonates. He was also musically gifted, composing several well-known melodies, including Ashrei Adam Ozeh Loch and Im Amarti Matah Ragli.

His student, the late Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Wosner, later reestablished Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin in Bnei Brak and named the Zichron Meir neighborhood after his rebbe. A public square in the Givat Moshe neighborhood of Jerusalem—Kikar Maharam Shapira—also bears his name.

Uniting a Nation, One Folio a Day

Rabbi Shapiro’s most enduring contribution was his creation of the Daf Yomi, a worldwide program to study one folio of Talmud each day. Spanning approximately seven and a half years per cycle, Daf Yomi has united hundreds of thousands of Jews around the world in the daily study of the same page of Gemara.

He introduced the concept at the First Great Assembly of Agudath Israel, presenting it with deep emotion before the leading sages and thousands of participants:

“If all of Am Yisrael, wherever they are, learn the same page of Gemara each day—could there be a more powerful expression of unity between Hashem, the Torah, and the Jewish people?”

He illustrated his point with a powerful image: a Jew travels from Israel to America, with a volume of Masechet Berachot under his arm. After a long journey, he walks into a Beit Midrash and finds Jews studying the exact same daf. He joins them with joy, discusses the topic, and instantly feels connected.

A Revolution in Torah Learning

The first Daf Yomi cycle began on Rosh Hashanah 5684 (1923). At first, many were hesitant and concerned about the commitment required to learn a daf every single day. But the Gerrer Rebbe declared, “I will learn Daf Yomi,” and with that, the initiative spread across the Jewish world. Today, Daf Yomi schedules are printed on countless Jewish calendars.

Before launching the program, Rabbi Shapiro consulted the leading sages of his time, including the Chafetz Chaim and the Imrei Emes of Ger. They both endorsed the idea, and the Chafetz Chaim referred to Rabbi Shapiro as the “Rabbi of the Daf Yomi.”

Daf Yomi created a structured, disciplined framework for Torah study. Missing a day means falling behind the global schedule, which itself creates accountability and encourages daily commitment. This regularity has enabled tens of thousands of Jews to complete the entire Talmud, something that was once the achievement of only the rarest individuals.

A Living Legacy Across Generations

Now in its 14th cycle, Daf Yomi continues to be a unifying force for Jews worldwide. The current cycle began on the 8th of Tevet 5780 (January 5, 2020) and will conclude on the 2nd of Sivan 5787 (May 13, 2027).

All over the world, Jews of all backgrounds and ages participate in Daf Yomi shiurim, from beginners to seasoned scholars. Because everyone studies the same page each day, anyone can join a class anywhere—at home, at synagogue, on the subway, or during business travel—and feel connected to something larger.

The merit of learning Talmud daily, once reserved for select scholars, is now within reach for the masses, thanks to Rabbi Meir Shapiro’s vision. His life may have been cut short—he passed away suddenly at the age of 46—but his impact continues to expand with each passing daf.