From Finish to Start

he conclusion of the 13^th Daf Yomi cycle is a long anticipated event, one that will mark the end of a 2,711 page long odyssey that has taken the Jewish people through all of Shas. As misaymim all across the globe get ready to celebrate their achievements, organizers worldwide are busy putting the finishing touches on siyumim that have been years in the making, and whose details are complicated enough to dizzy even the most seasoned event planners.

Managing to pull coordinators of three large-scale siyumim away from their last minute preparations for just a few minutes, Mishpacha spoke with Shmuli Rosenberg of Agudath Israel of America’s Siyum; Rabbi Aharon Gobioff, American director of Dirshu; and Gidon Katz of Kollel Iyun HaDaf’s English Siyum Hashas. What’s on their minds and what stirs their hearts as they put the finishing touches on the historic gatherings?

What are some of the most notable contrasts between this year’s siyum and those of the past?

Shmuli Rosenberg:  On a technical level, the program will be enhanced with additional programming including audio-visual presentations, while the physical configuration at the stadium has also been changed, with a raised center stage with four podiums ensuring that every seat will offer a great view.  And having seen how many people left the 12^th Siyum HaShas inspired to learn Daf Yomi, we started encouraging people to step up their learning more than two years ago, with 36,000 children learning through Masmidei HaSiyum and 12,500 thousand individuals taking part in Chavrei HaSiyum.  With so much hisorerus already in place before The Siyum, we can’t even begin to imagine how much inspiration will be achieved this time around.