By COLlive reporter
Not many Rabbis can boast that one of their regular classes has been going uninterrupted for nearly 40 years!
Shliach Rabbi Yossy Goldman of Johannesburg can claim this distinction as his weekly Gemara Shiur is now entering its 39th consecutive year and is arguably the longest-running Shiur in South Africa.
Having just completed the entire 119-page Bava Metzia, the seasoned teacher said this was their biggest achievement since its inception. While it may not have been a Siyum HaShas or a Siyum HaRambam, for his 20-plus students, none of whom ever attended a Yeshiva, it was a major celebration.
Rabbi Goldman assumed his position at Sydenham Shul in 1986, and this weekly Torah study group began shortly thereafter. It’s been going strong ever since.
“We’ve completed many volumes of the Gemara over the years, but Bava Metzia was by far the most challenging, both in size and depth,” said Rabbi Goldman. At 119 double-sided pages, it is one of the biggest tractates of the Gemara. It is also studied in Yeshivas around the world as a classic in Halacha and Jewish jurisprudence.
“We had some very difficult patches,” he confessed, “but thank G-d, the guys focused, put on their ‘Thinking Yarmulkas,’ and we got through them. I’m very happy for them all. It is a huge source of pride for all of us, myself included.”
After 35 years of outstanding leadership Rabbi Goldman was appointed Life Rabbi Emeritus of the Sydenham Shul. He continues to serve as President of the South African Rabbinical Association and a member of the boards of the Lubavitch Foundation of Southern Africa and the Torah Academy Schools.
Although the Shiur takes place in the home of Rabbi and Rochel Goldman, the Siyum Dinner was held in Sydenham Shul’s Elk Hall and was ably chaired by Rabbi Yehuda Stern, Rabbi Goldman’s successor at the Shul.
The Siyum Celebration Dinner was attended by the students, their wives, and their families. Included were members of the Shiur who have emigrated but continue to participate over Zoom. On the screen there were participants from Israel, London, Manchester and Cape Town. Rabbi Dayan Gidon Fox came in especially from Pretoria to show his admiration for the achievement.
South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein was the Guest Speaker. He said he regarded his presence not as a communal duty or obligation but as an opportunity to experience some real personal nachas. In fact, the nachas was tangible as he joined in the celebratory dancing after Rabbi Goldman did the official Siyum and concluded the final lines of the masechta. He, too, was very impressed with the classes’ accomplishment and said it proves again how little by little, page by page, week by week, we can achieve great things that would have seemed too formidable at first.
Advocate Stanley Pincus SC, represented the students and opened by saying that being asked to speak at this Siyum was without doubt the most challenging brief of his entire legal career! He also rebutted the rumor that people attend the Shiur just for Mrs. Goldman’s home-baked chocolate chip cookies, which are served with tea afterward. His proof was that during Covid, people still attended the Shiur on Zoom, and there were no cookies.
He then gave a concise summary of all the ten chapters of the Masechta. He also said how much he enjoys comparing Jewish law with Roman Dutch law which is the basis for South African law. The Shiur is, in fact, attended by several attorneys and one past High Court Judge.
Besides a delicious catered dinner, outstanding entertainment was provided by Rabbi Goldman’s son Chazan Shmuly Goldman and his two sons Menachem and Shimon who sang solos and duets, including the Acheinu song for the hostages.
Rabbi Goldman thanked his wife Rochel for being such a gracious hostess every week and said she surely has a massive zchus for all these years of hospitality. He also thanked all the wives of the students for giving their blessings for their husbands to leave home every Tuesday evening. And he assured them that they, too, have a share in their husbands’ Torah study.
As to why the Shiur takes place at their home rather than at Shul, he explained, “When our children were growing up, I wanted them to see regular Torah study taking place firsthand so that it should become part and parcel of their life experience.”
The traditional prayers recited at a Siyum express the hope that the students continue to begin and complete further tractates of the Gemara – to which everyone offered a resounding Amen!
The Shiur will begin Masechta Moed Katan this coming Tuesday, 23 Teves/January.
Nachas