Siyum at London Yeshiva Gedolah

It was a full house for the the 33rd annual Siyum at Yeshiva Gedolah Lubavitch London, which celebrated the completion of Mesechtas Gittin by a number of its Talmidim.

The Bochurim, under the auspices of Rabbi Yitzchok Meir Hertz Shlit’a learned the Mesechta over the course of the year, spent the month of Tammuz reviewing it, then completing an exam on the entire Mesechta, on which they did remarkably well.

The program begun with the Rebbe’s Kapital, recited by Dayan Levi Raskin, followed by the Siyum, made by Hatomim Mendel Vogel, who delivered a Pilpul which made clear a difficult Chiddush of the Rogatchover Goan. In line with the Rebbe’s directive to study Hilchos Bais Habechira during the three weeks, the Yeshiva Mashpia, Reb Mendel Gordon chazzered a sichah on the subject.

After the main course was served, the Rosh Yeshiva addressed the audience, elaborating on the Source for a Siyum in the Gemara. Highlighting the importance of supporting Torah, he quoted a piece from the Magen Avrohom which explains that those who support the yeshiva, and respect Torah, are considered participants in the siyum, even though they didn’t actually partake in the learning.

The guest speaker gracing the evening was Dayan Yaakov Lichtenstein, Rosh av bais din of the London Federation of synagogues, and a erudite Torah Scholar. The Dayan remarked how Lubavitch has a strong influence on Gittin, for every Bais Din in the world, bar none, uses the Sefer ‘Kav Noki’ for Gittin, which was written by the Rebbe’s Grandfather and is published by Kehos.

Underscoring the importance of Ahavas Yisrael, the Dayan discussed an interesting Gemara which relates Sholom bais to the general concept of Ahavas Yisrael. The audience was also told how after testing the Bochurim on Gittin back in 1989, and being astonished on how well the London Bochurim had done, Rabbi Lichtenstein wrote a letter to the Rebbe, and received a positive response.
At the end of the Program, the Bochurim were called up by name to receive their diplomas corresponding to their year of study, which are certified by the British accreditation council.

The event was Leiloi nishmas the founder of the Yeshiva Reb Nosson Vogel OBM.

After concluding a very successful year, the Yeshiva looks forward to continue striving for higher in the next Zman.