The Grand Siyum HaRambam: A Detailed Perspective

On Wednesday night, 10 Nissan (April 17), the night before the Rebbe’s birthday on Yud Alef Nissan, close to fifteen thousand men, women, and children, kein yirbu, gathered for a monumental celebration of Rambam learning and Achdus, Jewish unity.
The Siyum HaRambam Haolomi, celebrating the completion of the annual study cycle of the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, took place facing “The Rebbe’s Window” and the Rebbe’s beis midrash, “770” where he launched the Rambam campaign and subsequently made the first Siyum on Yud Alef Nisan 5745. Eastern Parkway was entirely closed off by the NYPD for the grand celebration.

This year’s event had extra unique significance, commemorating 40 years since the Rebbe initiated the taonah for Klal Yisroel worldwide to engage in the daily study of the Rambam.

Beyond completing another cycle, we celebrated forty years of collective growth, learning, and anticipation for the ultimate redemption.

“We see the Rebbe’s Brochos for the event as all the weather forecasts predicted rain
for Wednesday evening, at the very same time as the Siyum and the Rebbe postponed the rain for a few hours until the event’s conclusion,” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director Lubavitch Youth Organization and chairman Siyum Horambam Haolomi, the International Rambam Celebration. The crowd cheered with approval. They really felt the Rebbe’s Brocha.

The chassidic singer Avraham Fried, together with the Kapelle choir of Yossi Cohen, treated the assembled to heartfelt, stirring niggunim. “The Niggunim of the The event wasn’t intended or viewed as a concert but as a true Farbrengen — as it really was.
The Rebbe’s Kapitol was recited by the chazzan Reb Zalman Baumgarten.

Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum proceeded to call upon Hatomim Levi Pevzner to make a Siyum on Sefer Hamitzvos, and then chayolim of Tzivos Hashem recited the Twelve Pesukim and Maamorei

“Poschin bidvar Malchus.” A video was shown of the Rebbe discussing the great celebration associated with the first Siyum Horambam on Yud Alef Nissan 5745 and proceeding to make the actual Siyum at the Farbrengen.

Rabbi Butman, welcomed everyone to the Grand Celebration. “This is a double celebration. It’s the celebration of the Siyum Horambam Haolomi, and the celebration for the Rebbe’s 122nd birthday.”

“This year is also special in that we’re giving every participant a special coin in honor of forty years of the Limud Horambam. It’s a Matbea Shel Eish – a coin of fire—the fire of the Rebbe and the fire of the Rambam. Moreover, as it says in Chumash, Ur’isem oso uzechartem, when you will see this coin, it will remind you of your connection with the Rebbe and the Rambam by learning Rambam every single day—whether you’re learning three chapters daily, one chapter, or Sefer Hamitzvos, you are making that great connection with the Rebbe and the Rambam. Please remember that when you are learning Rambam, the Rambam is there with you, and the Rebbe is there with you. You get all the brochos you need, in bonei chayei umezonei revichei, and as the Rebbe always says, uv’kulom revichei – broadness and benevelance in all that you need.”

“This is a special year, as it’s the fortieth year of the Takono. We find in the Torah that after the Jews spent forty years in the Midbor, Moshe Rabbeinu said to the Jewish people: V’lo nosan Hashem lochem leiv loda’as, ‘Almighty G-d has not given you a heart to know,’ V’einayim lir’os, ‘and eyes to see,’ v’oznayim lishmoya, ‘and ears to hear,’ ad hayom hazeh, ‘until today.’ Following the forty years in the midbor, the next stop was El Eretz Tovoh Urechovoh, to Eretz Yisroel. So please remember, by learning Rambam every single day, you are bringing about the Geuloh Hoamitis Vehashleimoh! After the forty years of learning Rambam in golus our destination is the Geuloh Hoamitis Vehashleimo – the Great Redemption Teikef Umiyad Mamosh – imminently Now.”

“Regarding the situation in Eretz Yisroel, the whole world is saying that this is the first time in history that Iran has attacked Israel from their own territory. The Rebbe quotes the Midrash in Yalkut Shimoni that discusses very clearly the war initiated by Melech Poras, the ruler of Iran. The Midrash continues that we should not be afraid and that Almighty G-d is making a great announcement, Anovim higia zeman geulaschem, meaning, ‘Humble ones, the time of your Redemption has arrived’! So, it’s clear, Moshiach is coming!”

Special feature films were shown throughout the event. One of them, titled “Rambam in Gaza,” highlighted the experiences of Ari Abramowitz, an IDF soldier who studied Rambam while serving in Gaza. Abramowitz shared how the teachings of Rambam provided guidance and strength during his military service, demonstrating the practical relevance of learning Rambam.

Rabbi Chanoch Henach Junik, a resident of Crown Heights who served in Gaza during the war recited Perek Chof in Tehilim for the immediate release of the hostages and great hatzlocho in the war. Rabbi Butman offered condolences to the entire Junik family on the passing of the family matriarch Mrs. Fruma Junik O”H.

Another film showed the dedication of the members of Beis Shmuel Chabad, who gather every morning at 5:30 am for a shiur in Rambam. Whether on weekdays, Shabbos, or Sundays, they always have the shiur on the three daily chapters, successfully completing the entire Rambam in less than a year.

For the second year in a row, Reb Lipa Lieberman held a raffle for those who would commit to begin learning Rambam or strengthen their learning. After seeing many brochos following his raffle last year on a dollar from the Rebbe, he decided this year to raffle off two dollars from the Rebbe, one among the men and another for the women.

Greetings were heard from the Rabbonim Horoshiyim of Eretz Yisroel, the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, and Rabbi Dovid Lau. They encouraged us greatly to continue the Rebbe’s Takono.

The President of Eretz Yisroel, Yitzchak Isaac Herzog, also shared very warm words. “I am very pleased to congratulate you on this momentous occasion, completing the daily study cycle of the Rambam by thousands of Jews worldwide.

“About forty years ago, during one of his many gatherings, the Lubavitcher Rebbe said these beautiful words, and I quote: ‘It is clear that the unity formed through shared study is great and wonderful. For when several Jews study the same topic in Torah and discuss it with one another, a feeling of closeness and unity of hearts is created between them.

“Indeed, this close combination of Torah study and Jewish unity is the most prominent theme in the Chabad movement, which is present and influential everywhere—everywhere in the world, wherever Jews are found, with great love, day by day, hour by hour.

“And as with Torah study, so with the Chabad perception. The work never ends! I always ask, ‘These Shluchim, when do they sleep?’ There is always more to learn, another mitzvah to perform, another Jew to care for. Just like last year, I want to continue the tradition, and I wish you all that the meaningful moment you have reached together continues to impact the world, continue to be relevant and will add light in you and in the entire world.

“I pray together with you, and I’m confident that you dedicate your study to the success of the IDF soldiers, to the swift release of our sisters and brothers who are held hostages, and act everywhere and anywhere toward this noble goal—and of course, also for the healing of the wounded from the harsh battles. Well done! Be strong and courageous!” The large crowd greatly appreciated these special words.

The actual Siyum on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah was made by Horav Hagaon Reb Leibel Wulliger, Rosh Kollel of Torah Vodaas and representative of Chassidus Munkatch, who also reminisced of special moments he experienced with the Rebbe as a young boy in Crown Heights. Rabbi Wulliger spoke with great warmth and enthusiasm and he left a great impact on the gathering.

The hascholo, was made by Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet of the Mill Hill Synagogue in London. Rabbi Schochet’s unique style of eloquence and personal story were received by the large throng with great enthusiasm.

Towards the conclusion, Rabbi Butman mentioned the custom to announce the date and location of the next Siyum: Rosh Chodesh Ador in Yerusholayim by the Rambam and the Rebbe!

Rabbi Butman thanked the NYPD for their generous cooperation. “These are truly New York’s Finest in the full sense of the words.”

Rabbi Butman thanked all the organizers especially the coordinator Rabbi Mendel Mintz. The crowd responded with great cheers. Then, the crowd jubilantly danced and rejoiced with more music and singing, including “From Seven Seventy” and other joyous niggunim.

All participants received the special Rambam coin, and went home invigorated and inspired to strengthen their commitment to the Rebbe’s Takono and their great resolve to end this golus and bring Moshiach NOW.