Baltimore, MD - Apr. 18, 2018 - Kehilas Kol Torah (Rabbi Berger’s shul) social hall was host to a magnificent gathering of approximately 150 men and women from throughout our community who came together this past Sunday evening, April 15, to celebrate the siyum of Seder Nezikin by those who learn Daf Yomi.  Several of our community’s rabbonim graced the gathering with their presence.  The community-wide siyum was the idea of the Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America which coordinated similar siyumim on Sunday in 10 communities across the United States.

Rabbi Hillel Tendler, served as MC and thanked the generous sponsors who enabled the siyum to be open to all at no charge.  He noted the confluence of the conclusion of Seder Nezikin with the Parshiyos of Shmini, Tazria and Metzora, all of which deal with the enormous impact our actions and words can have.  Rabbi Yonason Aryeh Seideman delivered the Hadran and explained how the last piece of Gemara in the concluding Maseches Horiyos perhaps emphasizes the respect we must have for each other’s abilities even when different than our own.  Rabbi Seideman shared with the audience a very moving story of a Shas that belonged to his family and survived Churban Europe by being acquired by Mr. Ernest Gutman, z'l. The Kaddish was recited by Reb Aron Gibber who would be observing his mother’s yahrtzeit that evening.

Rabbi Laibish Becker, Executive Director of Agudath Israel of America and former head of the Daf Yomi Commission, recounted some of the history of the Agudah-sponsored Siyumei HaShas of Daf Yomi and shared with the audience that plans for the upcoming 13th Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi in January 2020 are near finalization.  Besides weather considerations, NFL and other professional sports league schedules must be coordinated with plans for the Siyum.  The 12th Siyum was held in August 2012 in MetrLife Stadium in New Jersey and was attended by over 90,000 people (plus tens of thousands more via remote hookup).

Rav Tzvi Einstadter, delivered the pesicha l’Seder Kodshim with a shiur on the requirements of the machashovos (thoughts and intentions) of Kohanim during their service in the Beis HaMikdash and how the proper thoughts infuse the actions of the Kohain with kedusha.  By learning Seder Kodshim, we enter the world of kedushah.  Rav Einstadter then explained how in our times, when tefilla takes the place of korbonos, our thoughts and intentions during davening have the same power to infuse our words and ourselves with kedusha.  While our bodies are mortal, our thoughts have the power to make our tefilos immortal and bring the Geulah Shlaimah b’mhaira b’yomeinu.

The entire evening was planned and executed by Reb Yissocher Shapiro who, with only one week to bring the entire siyum together, produced a magnificent gathering and program l’kovod ha’Torah.  Reb Yissocher was ably assisted by Reb Shimmy Goldstein.  The siyum was generously sponsored by Dr. and Dr. Sol Langermann, Mr. and Mrs. Aron Gibber, Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. Stuie Schabes, and others.