Thousands at Siyum Haramabam

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shimon Roumani

Thousands participated in the Siyum Horambam Haolomi (“International Siyum Harambam,”) as the Rebbe named it, held Tuesday in the Oholei Torah ballroom in Crown Heights.

“Although this is the 31st cycle, we see that the Rebbe’s directive is not fading but rather growing from year to year,” noted Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Director of Lubavitch Youth Organization and chairman of the Siyum Horambam Haolomi.

Rabbi Butman added that the uniqueness of learning Rambam, aside from learning and expanding knowledge in Torah, was that it was uniting the entire jewish community – men, as well as women and children – by learning Sefer Hamitzvos.

“The Alter Rebbe says that unity that is done through learning Torah is a wonderful unity that there is no match to it and the Rebbe wanted that this unity should bring about the unity of all Jews from all corners of the world with the coming of Moshiach,” he said.

Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, member of Crown Heights Beis Din had to be out of New York during the time of the Siyum. Rabbi Yaacov Schwei and Rabbi Yosef Braun, members of the Crown Heights Beis Din spoke about the importance of the learning of the Rambam and encouraged the community to increase in learning and in spreading Torah and Chassidus.

The event’s benefactor was Reb Sholom Ber Drizin who dedicated the Siyum to his famed father the Mashpia Rabbi Avrohom Drizin-Mayor. “To us this is a double celebration concluding the Rambam and doing what the Rebbe wants,” said Drizin.

Speakers included Rabbi Yechiel Michl Steinmetz, Dayan of Viznitz in Monsey who made the Siyum; Rabbi Aaron Goldmintzer, Dayan of Skver who made the start on the 32nd cycle; Rabbi Shlomo Leizer, Dayan of Klausenburg in Boro Park; Rabbi Eliezer Baum, Menahel of Yeshivah Yagdil Torah of Gur; Rabbi Yosef Weinberg, descendant of the Slonim dynasty; Rabbi Yitzchok Rabinovich of Boyan; Rabbi Mordechai Leib Weiss, Rosh Yeshiva and brother-in-law of the Munkatcher Rebbe; and Rabbi Yechezkel Bakenrot, Director of Modzitz institutions in Israel.

Participants thanked Rabbi Butman and his son Rabbi Yossi Butman for their dedication to holding the annual celebration and honoring the Rebbe’s instructions.

A special boys choir greatly inspired the crowd singing lively Chassidishe niggunim.

The chairman announced that Bezras Hashem the next Siyum will be held in Yerusholayim, on the 8th of Shvat 5774 with the participation of the Rambam and the Rebbe.