During “The Nine Days” from Rosh Chodesh Av until the Ninth of Av, Jews around the world mourn the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem. Many decades ago, The Lubavitcher Rebbe explained publically that the way to combat this sadness is by increasing in joy of the study of Torah.
The Rebbe continued that it states in the Talmud that we bring about true joy when we make a “siyum”, a completion of a tractate of Talmud. The siyum brings about happiness to the Rabbis who learned it and to all who participate. This, the Rebbe taught will shine the light of Torah on these days of darkness.
In the 1970’s with the blessing and encouragement of the Rebbe, Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht obm began broadcasting live siyumim on the Radio so all of New York could participate in this special custom. After the passing of Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht, the Rebbe requested that the siyumim continue through the 15th of Av, the holiday which celebrates the “upward rebound” from Tisha b’Av. Since then, the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE.org) has organized and sponsored these live siyumim on the radio from Rosh Chodesh Av until the 15th of Av.
For many years, the siyumim were aired on WEVD, the same station as the Rebbe’s farbreingens. This summer NCFJE and Chabad.org will be changing the broadcasting of the live siyumim to a new and more prominent station, WPAT 930 AM. The siyumim can also be viewed live online at Chabad.org and COLlive.com. Times and hosts for the siyumim will be announced in the coming days.
