Rav Chaim zatzal’s “Chovos” Schedule

So what were Rav Chaim zatzal’s chovos – his daily learning schedule, and what time of day did he learn them?  Also, at what age did he begin doing them?

This is what he learned from 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM each morning and continued from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.   –

  • 8 blatt of Bavli every day, and he also learned the parallel Yerushalmi on those Mishnayos in the Bavli as well.
  • 2 prakim of Tanach every day.
  • 4 blatt of the Yerushalmi daily,
  • 3 prakim of the Rambam’s Mishna Torah
  • 5 pages of Shulchan Aruch except when he was up to Orech Chaim – where he went slower, as he added the Mishna Brurah to the schedule too.

In the in-between-hours, he davened vasikin and also attended Bris Milahs serving as Sandek.

Rav Chaim zatzal  began with Shas from age 16 to age 20.  The first year he finished it four times.  He added Rambam and Shulchan Aruch at age 20.  Zohar and Midrashim were added later.  His yearly siyum at the Lederman Shul also included Midrash Rabbah, Sifra, Sifrei, Midrash Tanchuma, Zohar and the 6 sedarim of Mishnayos. (See Rebbitzen Kanievsky p.144-145)

Both of his sons ylct”v , Rav Avrohom Yishayahu and Rav Yitzchok Shaul, also have the same chovos schedule.