Jewish communities across the world celebrated a significant milestone in the limud of Daf Yomi, the Siyum of Seder Nezikin and the commencement of Seder Kodshim. The daf yomi cycle will culminate in 13th Siyum Hashas to be held in January 2020 (Teves 5780).

The excitement was palpable at the ten Siyumei Seder Nezikin that were organized by the Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America, which will iy”H host the next Siyum Hashas as well. The Siyumei Seder Nezikin were held in communities across the United States: Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Edison, Flatbush, Lakewood, Los Angeles, Monsey, Passaic-Clifton, and South Bend. The first of the Siyumim was held in Los Angeles on Wednesday, 26 Nisan (April 11th), and the final Siyum was held in Lakewood on Tuesday, 2 Iyar (April 17th). The rest of the communities held their Siyumim on Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Iyar (April 15).

These communities are diverse and geographically distant from each other, yet their respective celebrations had so much in common. Each Siyum was held in a prominent local Shul or catering hall, and was headlined by a prestigious guest speaker: HaRav Tzvi Einstadter in Baltimore; HaRav Shmuel Levin in Chicago; HaRav Ahron Levitansky in Cleveland; HaRav Yonoson Sacks in Edison; HaRav Tzvi Elimelech Rokeach in Flatbush; HaRav Yisroel Reisman in Lakewood; HaRav Dovid Schustal in Los Angeles; HaRav Eytan Feiner in Monsey; HaRav Ezriel Erlanger in Passaic-Clifton; and HaRav Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro in South Bend.

“There is a distinct intensity in Klal Yisroel now regarding learning Daf Yomi, an excitement about this milestone,” says Rabbi Labish Becker, Executive Director of Agudath Israel of America. “As we head towards the upcoming Siyum Hashas, it’s fair to say that Daf Yomi is at a very strong point.” Hundreds of new lomidim have joined, and current participants are strengthening their commitment to the limud of Daf Yomi.

The inaugural Siyum was held at Khal Bais Yehuda in Los Angeles. The Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Schustal, explained how appropriate it was that this historic Siyum is celebrated during the days of Sefiras Ha’omer. The Sefirah period symbolizes that as significant and miraculous as yetzias Mitzrayim was, it’s ultimate purpose was to enable Klal Yisroel to proceed towards Kabolas HaTorah. Rav Schustal stressed that a Siyum Masechta, and a communal celebration thereof, likewise highlights how Klal Yisroel views limud haTorah as the most important aspect of their lives. Every day is another step towards advancing that goal. “This is the ikar of klal Yisroel,” the Rosh Yeshiva exclaimed.

At the final Siyum in Lakewood, HaRav Malkiel Kotler, Rosh HaYeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha spoke about the power of the words hadran alach. It means that the mesechta becomes an integral part of our very essence to return to it continuously throughout our lives. HaRav Yisroel Reisman, Rosh Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and Rav, Khal Agudas Yisroel Zichron Chaim Tzvi of Madison, analyzed what Chazal teach us is the source for a Seuda for a Siyum: the grand Seuda that Shlomo Hamelech arranged after Hashem told him in a dream that he would merit chochma. What is the connection to a Siyum; Shlomo Hamelech was not celebrating a completion?

Rav Reisman cited the words of HaRav Shimon Schwab zt”l, who explained that the main aspect of a Siyum is not a celebration of past accomplishment, but rather the determination to utilize what was accomplished for future growth. The Siyum of one Masechta empowers one to learn another Masechta better than ever before. He recounted how, as a bachur, he was learning the complex inyanim of Mikvaos, and marveled at how familiar his father was on the topic and its unique terminologies. His father explained, “When you learn Daf Yomi, you learn the language of Shas.”

Rabbi Eliyohu Bamberger, Coordinator of the Daf Yomi Commission, conveyed the Commission’s excitement for this final phase in the 13th cycle of Daf Yomi. “We are already working tirelessly to make the upcoming Siyum Hashas the most powerful and memorable ever, b’ezras Hashem, as tall an order as that is,” he says. “Every lomeid is the greatest celebrant at the Siyum Hashas and, of course, enjoys the sweetness of Torah and achdus every day both before and after the celebrations.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)