As we prepared for the momentous siyum of the Daf-A-Day Mid-Winter Learning Program, the anticipation reached such a fever pitch that one would have thought the event itself could not possibly equal the hype. Remarkably, it exceeded it! From the early morning, there was a bounce in everyone’s step as the boys walked into the building wearing white shirts, humming and smiling from ear to ear. Over 100 prizes were handed out to the daily raffle prize winners in grades 1-8 over vacation. The concert began with a message about the tremendous impact the boys made for the soldiers, our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael, and acheinu kol Beis Yisrael, by learning every day. A perek of Tehillim was resoundingly recited in the Auditorium and then the music swept everyone away on a wave of emotion as their voices carried the boys to the lofty heights of genuine simcha, the import of what they had accomplished spurring them on.
There is little doubt that the singing and spontaneous dancing made quite a commotion in Shamayim as the Malachim responded to this kiddush Shem Shamayim, by joining in and singing, “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh…” The seudah l’kavod the siyum, and the avira of achdus which was palpable in the room, was magnificent. The beautiful decor, the delicious food, and the captivating story, made it a memorable experience for everyone. Finally, when one would think the enjoyment had reached its peak, the boys excitedly ran to the dance floor for leibideg dancing, followed by a kumzits for the junior high talmidim that was the icing on the cake. Even hours later, many of the boys exuberantly exclaimed, “We had such an awesome time. It was so worth all of the effort.”
May our precious children internalize these lessons which form the core of yahadus: that we were placed on Earth to learn Hashem’s Torah, be mikadesh Sheim Shamayim, and that we never want to take a vacation from doing so! It is our fervent hope that the concept of being nosei b’ol im chaveiro, engendered by this initiative, remains with them moving forward. Thank you to all of those who helped out on the day of the siyum. May we celebrate next year’s siyum in Yerushalyim hab’nuyah!