Siyumim on Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and Seder Moed to be Graced by HaGaonim HaRav Eliyahu Abba Shaul and HaRav Binyomin Finkel
It was an unforgettable moment. The place, Les Docks Des Paris, a large indoor stadium in downtown Paris, a place that usually features all kinds of shows and concerts, was transformed into a holy beis medrash. It was the siyum of the first machzor of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha seven years ago. Thousands of Jews from Paris representing the most beautiful mosaic of French Jewry, Sephardim, Ashkenazim, traditional Jews and Chassidim came together hand-in-hand to hear divrei chizuk from the venerated senior Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva from Eretz Yisrael, HaGaon Hacham HaRav Shalom Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef, the Kaliver Rebbe, shlita and other leading French Rabbanim.
The wonderful impact of that siyum was incalculable and is still felt today in France.
At that siyum, Rav Shalom Cohen said, “Morai V’Rabotai, the siyum of Shas ends with the words, ‘He who learns halachos every day is assured a place in Olam Habaah.’ From here we see that learning Gemara every day is insufficient. A person must learn halacha every day! If not, how will he know how to conduct himself?!”
Rav Cohen’s words, said with such profound feeling and care, were taken deeply to heart by French Jewry and the tens of French Rabbanim in attendance from the communities of Paris, Marseilles, Lyon and so many other major centers went back to their shuls and began the second machzor of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha by establishing new shiurim.
Now, seven years later, thousands of Yidden from all over France are completing that machzor and making a siyum on the entire Mishnah Berurah!
This coming Sunday, 12 Adar 1/February 13, a massive crowd of men, women and children will once again flock to the Les Docks Des Paris Auditorium to celebrate the completion of the second machzor in the program, but in essence, first machzor for French Jewry.
The event promises to be a deeply inspiring, emotional event as French Jewry, with its love and enthusiasm for Torah, will come together led by tens of the most prominent Rabbanim in France to celebrate the siyum.
A Double Siyum Addressed by Two Guest Gedolim
Perhaps the greatest highlights of the siyum will be the presence the two guest Roshei Yeshiva, Gaonim and Tzaddkim from Eretz Yisrael who will journey to France especially to address the siyum. The great Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Abba Shul, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Ohr L’Tzion and a son of the venerated posek and Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef, the late Gaon Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul, zt”l will address the crowd. Hacham Eliyahu is known as an extremely compelling speaker whose message will undoubtedly deeply resonate with the crowd. The second guest from Eretz Yisrael is slated to be the great Mashgiach of Mir Yerushalayim, HaGaon HaRav Binyomin Finkel, shlita. Known throughout the world as Rav Binyomin Hatzaddik he has moved and inspired audiences around the world with his heartfelt words of love and chizuk. In addition, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu will attend and address the event.
In truth, the historic siyum in Paris will be a double siyum. Not only will it be a siyum to celebrate the accomplishments of lomdei Dirshu of France who have completed all six chalakim of the Mishnah Berurah but it will also mark the completion of seder Moed in Dirshu’s Kinyan Torah Daf HaYomi Bavli program wherein hundreds of Yidden from France take monthly tests on the Daf HaYomi.
The siyum which will be a catered affair, will also feature inspiring zemiros led by well-known singers Shlomo Cohen and Naftali Kampe and accompanied by a beautiful orchestra.
Rabbi Shlomo Rozenstein, Dirshu’s Director of Public Relations, relates, “The achdus in the French community is phenomenal. Charedim, non-Charedim, Sefardim and Ashkenazim are all fully mobilized to not only attend the siyum but to utilize it as a springboard to encourage more and more accountable limud haTorah among all French Jews. It is very moving to see so many diverse communities working together with remarkable achdus for the singular purpose of promoting limud haTorah.”
Celebrating the Past but Even More About the Future!
The Gedolim from Eretz Yisrael and the Rabbanim from France will be coming primarily to pay tribute to the accomplishments of these lomdim and to recognize the tremendous efforts that they, their wives and families invest day in and day out to keep up with Dirshu’s rigorous schedule of leaning, reviewing and testing that culminates in the creation of a Shas Yid and Mishnah Berurah Yid!
That, however, is not the only reason for the enthusiastic support of the Gedolim and the major Rabbanim of France. Nor is that the only reason for such a large, gala, catered celebration with wonderful zemiros and a most festive atmosphere.
“There is another reason for the size and scope of this celebration,” says Rabbi Rozenstein. “Past experience has shown that after every major siyum many, many thousands of new participants are inspired to join Dirshu’s programs. Dirshu’s mission is to bring accountable limud haTorah to all of the diverse, varied shevatim of Klal Yisrael and thereby become a part of the Divine promise that ‘Torah will never be forgotten from among your children.’
“After every major siyum, whether it is in Eretz Yisrael, the United States, England, France, South Africa or even South America and Australia, we see a tremendous increase in new lomdei Dirshu who, through kinas sofrim, through seeing people just like them achieving such a milestone accomplishment in limud haTorah, feel compelled to join as well. Thus, the Dirshu Siyum in France is as much a hodaah al ha’avar, an opportunity to thank Hashem and, of course, the lomdei Dirshu for past accomplishments, as it is a bakasha al ha’asid, a deep, fervent tefillah for the future that more and more lomdim should join the army of Hashem that constitutes lomdei Dirshu and see and experience the transformative impact it can have on their lives!”
Tickets For Massive Siyum in Cure Insurance Arena Going Quickly
Similarly, that is the objective of the large siyum that will follow in the United States where many thousands will converge at the expansive Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, to celebrate the siyum on the second machzor of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Daily Mishnah Berurah learning program this coming Rosh Chodesh Adar 2/March 3.
The siyum will be graced by leading gedolim, Roshei Yeshiva, Admorim and Rabbanim from the United States and the rest of the world. There will also be a separate program for Dirshu wives at the nearby Trenton War Memorial, that will have a deeply inspiring, entertaining program to pay tribute and give chizuk to Dirshu wives while live-streaming major highlights from the Men’s siyum.
At this point, tickets have already gone on sale and although many sections are already sold out, there are still excellent seats remaining. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-855-Siyum 22.
By Chaim Gold