Here is third and final part of the Yated Siyum Article - PROUD TO BE A YID — IMPRESSIONS OF THE ELEVENTH SIYUM HASHAS
As Rav Matisyohu Solomon later affirmed, in his emotional address, “After the war, my father was instrumental in bringing young refugees to England. I recall a 16 year old bochur who was treated to a platter of cookies, which, in those days, was a real treat. My father said the boy had been farhered by the Rosh Yeshiva on 200 blatt gemara, b’aal peh. When did he learn the gemara? With his father, in the concentration camp! His father, who had been a Daf Yomi Magid Shiur in Lodz, learned with him in the squalor of the camps, as long as they were still together.
“I pictured the father huddled with his son, trying not to be caught, a young child, learning daf after daf, until he knew 200 blatt ba’l peh, and suddenly the father grew in my eyes. Tonight, I was thinking, after 200 blatt, they must have finished at least one, perhaps two or three masechtos. And I imagined, ‘What did the siyum look like?’ In the squalor of the camp, after a day of torture, perhaps they shared half a piece of dry bread, as they said, ‘hadran aloch, daytan aloch.’ This is our life! This is what we concentrated on during our darkest hour.”
In a ringing voice, Rav Solomon concluded, “I believe that this gathering is already the beginning of the nekamah, for nations must be amazed and inspired. May this be the beginning of the renewal of Klal Yisroel, and kevod malchus Shomayim.”
The singing and dancing continued, showing no signs of abating. On the contrary, it seemed to gather strength, as fathers carried young boys on their shoulders, Bnei Torah swayed with eyes shut, as if holding the Torah dear to their heart. It was Simchas Torah magnified a thousandfold. It was like watching all the Botei Midroshim and shteeblach of Klal Yisroel gather to celebrate a massive hakafa, the hakafa of the Daf Yomi. Even several of the security guards, moved beyond words, danced along. Most of them had never seen such a powerful scene in their lives.
And then, the voice of Rav Pinchos Friedman, Rosh Kolelei Belz, appeared on the screen, as he uttered the timeless Hadran. “Yehi Rotzon M’lfonechoh… Shetehei Torascho U’mnoseinu B’olam Hazeh… Ut’hay Emonu L’olam Haboh.” May it be Your will, that the Torah should be our trade in this world, and may it remain with us in the World to Come. Ribono Shel Olam, make the words of the Torah sweet in our mouths, in the mouths of Your nation….Boruch Atoh Hashem, Lamdeinu Chukecha.”
The words of the Hadran gave voice to our deepest emotions as Rav Pinchos continued, “Praised are You, Our Creator, who has given us a chelek with the Yoshvei Bais Medrash, and not with those who sit aimlessly in the corners. We awaken and they awaken, yet there is a difference. We awaken to learn the timeless word of the Torah, and they awaken for d’vorim b’tailim, empty pursuits. We toil and they toil; we run and they run. We run to Chayei Olam Haboh, while they run to be’er shachas…”
The powerful hadran, and the hascholas haShas that followed, were the raison de’tre of the evening. Yet they were not the only highlights. One after another, powerful, riveting speakers, Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva and representatives of Torah kehillos across the world addressed the crowd; electrifying, invigorating, inspiring.
It was a memory that shall remain forever etched in the hearts and minds of those who attended. As Rav Yissochor Frand stressed, in his powerful drasha, transmitted live from Chicago, “We must all leave here tonight committed to accomplishing more. Some people will be moved to undertake Daf Yomi and finish Shas, while others will encounter their first daf in gemara.”
And still others, notably the women who attended, will be committed to supporting their husbands and children, giving up the precious evening time, so that their menfolk can shteig in Torah. For these n’shei Chayil, this momentous ma’amad was also a tremendous source of chizuk. As a friend expressed, during the bus ride to the Siyum Hashas, “It was really hard for me to juggle everything and come, but I had to. You see, I attended the last Siyum Hashas, and I’m still inspired. There’s no way I would miss this one..”
Making a Kiddush Hashem The five-hour event flew by quickly. Remarkably, despite the logistics of containing such a huge crowd, everything went more smoothly than anticipated. The scores of police officers stationed at the doors to Madison Square Garden, (the same applies to Continental Arena, ) were professional and highly competent at guiding the crowd. As a member of the (frum) press, I was given a special press necklace, enabling me to report from a special press section on the sixth floor. When I arrived, one of the news networks was doing an interview with a heimishe woman, picked out at random, who was endeavoring to express what the Siyum Hashas was all about.
“This is about the Jewish people coming together to celebrate the completion of the Talmud,” she explained. “Every seven-and-a-half years, the cycle is complete, and then we start all over again.”
“Do women also learn the Talmud?” came the next, inevitable question. “No, of course not,” the well-spoken woman replied. “Don’t you feel bad that you can’t really be a part of it?” asked the interviewer. “Not at all. Because in essence, we really are a part of it. We are the support system, the ones who stay behind the scenes, guiding and encouraging. Also, we have our own mitzvot—” “Can you translate? Most people don’t know what that word means.” “—Our own commandments to fulfill, like lighting candles, and teaching the next generation. So we really play an important part in this celebration.” “And without the Jewish mothers who raise their children to value this lifestyle, we wouldn’t be having such a gathering today.” Kudos to her. I couldn’t have said it better.
