𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟒𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐦 - 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝟔:𝟓𝟓𝐏𝐌

The Siyum HaRambam HaOlami on the forty-fourth cycle was celebrated with great splendor on Sunday, 2 Adar, at the spacious and prestigious Union Bedford Armory in Brooklyn, New York, with thousands of men, women, and children in attendance. A palpable sense of excitement and enthusiasm filled the weeks leading up to the Siyum, as tens of thousands worldwide prepared to complete the study of the entire Torah Shebaal Peh, in accordance with the Rebbe’s takanah, for the forty-fourth time since its establishment in 5744 (1984). Following the Rebbe’s directive regarding the Siyum date falling on Erev Shabbos Kodesh, when it would be difficult to hold a large gathering, the celebration was moved to the following Sunday. As the appointed hour approached, the streets of Crown Heights leading to the Armory were filled with people — young and old, Talmidei HaTemimim, and entire families — making their way to the grand celebration. A special transportation system was organized by the Siyum Committee to accommodate the large crowds. When the doors opened shortly before the scheduled start time, the audience began filling the thousands of seats that had been meticulously arranged for this extraordinary event. Precisely at 7:00 PM, the Siyum commenced, and the chassidic chazzan Rabbi Shneur Zalman Baumgarten was called to lead the recitation of the Rebbe’s kapitel, chapter 123 of Tehillim, possuk by possuk. The entire audience stood with respect as Rabbi Baumgarten, with a special melody, led the recitation of Tehillim. The Devar Malchus was heard from the Rebbe himself, in a video presentation from the first Siyum HaRambam on the auspicious day of Yud Alef Nissan 5745 (1985). The Rebbe recited the final halacha in the Rambam while explaining each line and word. After the Siyum, the audience at the farbrengen was shown singing enthusiastically “Sisu V’simchu B’simchas Torah.” Rabbi Velvl Butman, shliach in Westchester, New York — son of the unforgettable emcee and organizer of Siyumei HaRambam for 40 years, Rabbi Shmuel Butman a”h, who passed away this past year — took the role of master of ceremonies. He invited the first speaker, yibodel l’chaim tovim, the Mara D’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun shlita, who emphasized the importance of holding the Siyum HaRambam with great honor and splendor as the Rebbe wanted. Horav Braun blessed the organizers who worked tirelessly for weeks on the event arrangements and noted the wonderful segulos associated with the holy gathering of the Siyum HaRambam, where one can ask for all one’s needs in children, life, and livelihood — all in abundance — and for the needs of all of Klal Yisroel. A soldier in Tzivos Hashem, Mendel Roitblat, a student in Lubavitcher Yeshiva, was invited to make the Siyum on Sefer Hamitzvos on behalf of the thousands who learn the daily Sefer Hamitzvos, which corresponds to the halachos studied in the three-chapters-a-day track. The Siyum of Sefer Hamitzvos was dedicated in memory of the boy’s grandfather, the Gaon and Chossid Rabbi Shneur Zalman Wilschanski a”h, Rosh Yeshiva of Tomchei Temimim in Morristown. Horav Hagaon R’ Meshulam Feish Ginzburg shlita, the Rebbe of Chust and member of Agudas Harabbonim, enthusiastically explained that besides the ge’onus contained in every word of the Rambam, one also receives pure yiras shomayim through its study. Distinguished rabbonim who were unable to attend the Siyum in person sent their blessings via video recordings. Rabbi Moshe Elefant, one of the heads of the OU Kashrus organization, extolled the virtue of the daily Rambam learners and the spiritual strength gained from fulfilling the Rebbe’s takanah. Rabbi Tzvi Mandel, Vice Chairman and member of the Beis Din of the Igud Harabbonim, delivered words of blessing. Rabbi Yonah Reiss, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and Deputy Av Beis Din of the Beth Din of America, offered his blessing to the learners and those completing the cycle. Another recording was shown from Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of the Boca Raton Synagogue in Florida, who spoke with evident warmth about the takanah of learning Rambam. The emcee invited Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch to lead all those assembled in reciting Chapter 20 of Tehillim for the safety of our brethren in Eretz HaKodesh, for victory in the war, and for the return of all our hostages in full health. The emcee mentioned his late father, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky a”h, member of the International Siyum HaRambam Committee, who passed away this year. Horav Osher Eckstein shlita, Dayan and Moreh Tzedek for Belz chassidim in Boro Park and chairman of the Machzikei Hadas Kashrus, inspired the audience to add depth to their daily Rambam study. Read More https://collive.com/grand-siyum-harambam-celebration-attended-by-thousands/