The following is via the Toronto Star:
Almost every evening without fail, Rabbi Henry Hoschander sits down to participate in a dialogue than spans millennia and countries.
His commitment may seem daunting for he studies the Talmud, a text unlike any modern day book. The words are in Hebrew and Aramaic, in different fonts without vowels or punctuation. Blocks of scholarly commentary are wrapped around a central text. And on the edges of the page, commentary, often conflicting, on the commentary.
“Let’s put it this way: If one seeks to offset the effects of Alzheimer’s, this is one way to do it,” laughs Hoschander.
At the age of 84, he never falters in his commitment to study his daily page of Talmud, the compendium of Jewish law, ethics and customs, and the rabbinic discussions that have shaped them.
Hoschander studies at Agudath Israel Anshei Keltz, in the Bathurst St.-Lawrence Ave. W. area, one of a group which meets at the synagogue daily. Around the world, similar groups participate in the daf yomi, studying the same page on the same day.
Considering the Talmud is made up of 63 tractates (or volumes) and comprises over 2,700 pages, it takes about 7½ years to finish this monumental task.
On Wednesday, that day has come.
An estimated 250,000 people around the world will celebrate the siyum, the completion of the 12th cycle of Talmud study since 1923. In New Jersey, more than 90,000 people are expected at the MetLife Stadium. Toronto’s celebration will take place at the Sony Centre.
Studying Talmud feels like a conversation that transcends time and space with the present-day student trying to make sense of the laws God wishes His people to follow.
The Toronto siyum, which is expected to fill the 3,200-seat centre, will also have a live feed to the massive New Jersey event.
At the conclusion of the event, it will simply be back to the books for Hoschander and Orthodox Jews around the world. The 13th cycle officially begins Friday.
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