On January 1 of 2020, approximately 100,000 people joined together at MetLife Stadium to celebrate the completion of the seven-and-a-half-year cycle of Daf Yomi.
On Monday evening, March 7, 2022, approximately 26 months into the new cycle, hundreds of community members joined together at Congregation Ohel Simcha in Kew Gardens Hills to celebrate completing Seder Moed, the first section of the Talmud dealing with matters of Shabbos and the Jewish Holidays.
The event featured many guest speakers, including several leading rabbinic authorities from around the world, including HaRav David Yosef (head of the prominent Kollel Yechaveh Da’at in Jerusalem) and HaRav Osher Kalmanowitz (Rosh Yeshivah of Mir).
Rabbi Yaniv Meirov of Chazaq began the event by introducing Rav Igal Haimoff, rav of Ohel Simcha, for opening remarks. He was followed by Rav Eliyahu Ben Chaim (head of the Sefardi Bet Din in Queens), Rav Michael Mansour (Rosh Yeshiva, Chazaq Kollel Zichron Moshe), and Rav Akiva Grunblatt (Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim).
Rav David Yosef then spoke about the importance of being persistent in the study of Torah and reviewing one’s studies until one understands the matter clearly. He further stressed that one must not be satisfied with learning, but rather must be involved in reaching out to others, as well, and praised Chazaq for their life-changing outreach work with public school students.
He was followed by Rav Yitzchak Yisraeli, Chief Rabbi of the Bukharian Community in the USA and Canada, who delivered a passionate speech about the importance of Torah study, especially in today’s times, where the world is experiencing so much turmoil. “If we experienced COVID-19 and are now entering a crisis in the world with a war between Russia and Ukraine that can lead to great damage, then Hashem is clearly sending us a message,” said the Chief Rabbi.
He was followed by a powerful message by the renowned poseik, Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum, who emphasized the importance of unity and growth in Torah during these turbulent times.
The event closed off with the siyum by Rabbi Gavriel Elbaz, who delivers the daily daf shiur at Ohel Simcha to a group of dedicated young men. “Today, you have 15 participants. May you, b’ezras Hashem, have 1,500” was a blessing Rav David Yosef bestowed upon him. After reciting Kaddish, everyone erupted in joy with music and dancing along with a lavish buffet meal.
This inspirational event can be viewed on www.Torahanytime.com.