The Siyum HoRambam Haolomi, as it was called by the Rebbe, was celebrated in grand style with 15,000 in attendance. With a large stage in front of 770 Eastern Parkway the Siyum HoRambam HaOlami was graced by prominent rabbonim and community leaders.
This year, the Siyum HaRambam coincided with Lag B’Omer, the day of rejoicing for Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Both of these occasions together formed a woderful combination of unity and strength.
It was truly historic for the police to close off two long blocks of the usually bustling parkway and give permission to hold a grand Lag B’Omer bonfire right in the middle of the street. Everything together contributed to being a very uplifting event with an unforgettable impact.
From all directions, thousands made their way to the Siyum. Many prominent rabbonim and mashpi’im came to join sharing words Torah and inspiration concerning the tremendous virtue of learning Rambam, which encapsulates the entire Torah.
“This is a unique triple celebration of the Rebbe, the Rambam and Reb Shimon Bar Yochai,” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, chairman of Siyum HoRambam Haolomi.
Giving Torah study its deserving honor, the event was focused on encouraging the assembled crowd to strengthen and improve their daily study of Rambam, in accordance with the Rebbe’s takanah. A great focus was put on inspiring more and more people to join the Rebbe’s takonah.
The Siyum was made by Rabbi Yitzchok Raitport who just this year wrote two new seforim on the Rambam. The Hascholo and beginning of the 42nd cycle was made by Rabbi Gavriel Tzinner whom the Rebbe himself asked if he spoke at the Siyum HoRambam.
In honor of this great celebration particular messages were sent by the chief rabbis of Israel Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef and Rabbi Dovid Lau, as well as the former chief of Israel, and presently chief rabbi of Yerushalayim, Rabbi Shlomo Amar. The rabbonim praised the idea of having set times for Torah study every day, and the greatness of the Rebbe’s takanah, which has been adopted by Klal Yisroel.
The chassidic singer Avraham Fried treated the assembled to heartfelt niggunim, together with the Kapela choir of Yossi Cohen and the children’s choir Yingerlich of young Chassidic children from Skver-Town and Boro Park.
Rabbi Butman thanked COLlive for their kind sponsorship and coverage of this event and wished them great success in all their endeavors.
The large crowd left with the determination to continue and encourage others to join the takonah of the Rebbe of learning Rambam every single day in preparation of the prophecy with which the Rambam finishes his sefer, “and the world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the see.”
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“Rebbe, I’m yours” – Duddi Farkash
