Kavod HaTorah From Baltimore's 25th Community Siyum HaTorah (Photo Essay)

By BJLife/Isaac Draiman
Posted on 07/14/17

Baltimore, MD - July 14, 2017 - The hall at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion was full on Wednesday July 5 / 11 Tamuz as members throughout the community, including the Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Aharon Feldman, shlita, and many local rabonim, joined together to celebrate a Siyum on all of Tanach, Shisha Sidrei Mishna and Shas Bavli!

Mr. Seth Gerstman, the organizer and MC welcomed the crowd and praised the Siyum’s previous organizers, Rabbi Joseph Shechter, Z'L, for his famous ability to “sell real estate” in olam haba’ah and sign people up for learning, and Mr. Chonon Shugarman, Z'L, for working behind the scenes on arranging the programming and the event itself.

Reb Chaim Glazer, formally made the Siyum and recited the sweet words of Hadran. After the singing and mazel tovs, Rav Yonason Seidemann, Rav Kehilas B’nai Torah, restarted the cycle of learning with Brachos. The Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Aharon Feldman, shlita, then addressed the gathering stating the importance of limud HaTorah and how the only real substance in this world is Torah and Mitzvos.

The Rosh Yeshiva also reiterated the significance of maintaining and promoting shalom in a community and how it has a special shemira, safeguarding effect. Following the Rosh Yeshiva’s inspiring words, Harav Moshe Heinemann, Shlita, Rav of Agudath Israel of Baltimore, thanked and praised all those who participated in the learning, as well as their spouses, for encouraging and fostering a beautiful display of achdus in limud HaTorah. Rav Heinemann pointed out how that the Siyum's beautiful décor is a very befitting Kavod HaTorah and that when it comes to Kavod HaTorah there is no limit.

The guest speaker, Rav Pinchos Gross of Kehillas Derech Chaim, delivered an inspirational message. Rav Gross highlighted the chashivas of Baltimore because of its dedication to limud HaTorah and the heart-warming achdus that permeates throughout this community.

The beautiful niggunim and live music by Aryeh Berkowitz and the delicious seudah - served by Menachem Gerstman, Yosef Gerstman, Reuvain Kleiner, Mordechai Nelkin, Refoel Prizer, and Shmuly Samet - added to the ruach of this festive event.  Before the evening concluded, many sign-up cards were already filled out; the next cycle of learning had already begun.






We are so proud of these young men, shown above, who helped serve the large crowd, including: Menachem Gerstman, Yosef Gerstman, Reuvain Kleiner, Mordechai Nelkin, Refoel Prizer, Shmuly Samet