International
Siyum HaRambam In NY
In
the weeks before the event, the International Siyum HaRambam
Committee, directed by Rabbi Shmuel Butman, prepared for the grand
siyum. Residents of Crown Heights and nearby neighborhoods
received invitations for the event. Color posters, in Hebrew and
English, were displayed in Jewish neighborhoods throughout New
York. A quality program developed, as befits an event that honors
the initiator of the study cycle, the Rebbe MH”M.
The
evening began at 9:00 with opening remarks by Rabbi Butman, who
chaired the event. After reciting the Rebbe’s chapter of
Tehillim and proclaiming “Yechi,” the lights dimmed and
the Rebbe’s hadran on Rambam in 5749 was shown on video.
The
first speaker was Rabbi Eliyahu Fisher, rosh kollel
of Ger in Boro Park, and representative of the Gerrer Rebbe. He
began by noting that the final mivtza the Rebbe asked us to
work on is Mivtza Moshiach, to prepare oneself and the entire
world to greet Moshiach. “This becomes that much more imperative
on the day we conclude the Rambam’s work, which ends with
‘Hilchos Melachim and Moshiach.’”
Rabbi
Yosef Binyamin Williger, a distinguished member of the Klausenberg
community, and the representative of the Klausenberger Rebbe, was
the next speaker. He related how the late Klausenberger Rebbe
expressed amazement about the Rebbe’s holy work, especially with
regards to the shluchim who promote Torah and teshuva around
the world with mesirus nefesh.
“Lubavitch
deserves an abundance of good, b’gashmiyus b’ruchniyus,
for their holy work; especially for their waking up the world to
prepare for Moshiach.”
The
representative of Vizhnitz schools and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe in
Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Efraim Rosenberg, spoke about the work Chabad
Chassidim do in spreading the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. In
addition to their work in establishing mosdos Torah and
strengthening the wonderful takana of learning Rambam, they
are mekarev Klal Yisroel to Torah and mitzvos.
Rabbi
Rosenberg concluded his speech by relating a story he heard from
someone who had planned his flight to arrive in New York with
enough time to daven. His flight ended up being delayed a
few hours and he was afraid he would miss the opportunity to
perform the mitzva of tefillin. Remembering that
Lubavitchers are everywhere, he contacted the local shaliach,
who rushed tefillin over to the airport for him.
Rabbi
Yerachmiel Zeltzer, rosh kollel in Skulen and
representative of the Skulener Rebbe, relayed the Skulener
Rebbe’s bracha for the event. He said that although the
Rambam’s work is based on Nigla, sometimes it alludes to
concepts in Nistar, as well. For example, the Rambam says, “a
person should always learn Torah lo lishma, because from lo
lishma he will come to lishma.” The Rambam’s
wording differs from that in the Gemara, where it says, “ a
person should always learn Torah and do mitzvos lo lishma…”
Perhaps the Rambam quoted the text from the Zohar instead,
where the word “mitzvos” is omitted.
Rabbi
Gershon Tenenbaum, director of Iggud HaRabbanim, thanked Rabbi
Butman for the wonderful event, and then Rabbi Teleshevsky led the
reading of chapter 20 of Tehillim for the speedy recovery of Rabbi
Marlow.
Rabbi
Osdoba of the Crown Heights Beis Din, noted that the Rambam is the
only posek to pasken l’halacha on inyanei
Moshiach and Geula. Rabbi Osdoba gave an explanation as
to why the Gemara says that when a person goes to olam ha’ba he
is asked: “Did you deal honestly in business? Did you establish
set times to study Torah? Were you involved in procreation? And
did you anticipate the salvation?”
Why
is the first question about business, and not something more
significant? By way of allusion, you can say that the question,
“Did you deal honestly in business” (nosasa v’nosata
b’emuna), means: were you involved in matters of emuna
in Hashem, Torah, Moshiach? The next question is: Did you
establish times for learning about these things? The Chassidic
explanation of pirya v’rivya (procreation) is: did you
draw other Jews closer to Torah and mitzvos? Then finally,
a person is asked whether he looked forward to Moshiach’s
coming, as the Rambam says we are obligated to do.
Rabbi
Mordechai Leib Weiss made the actual siyum, and
Rabbi Michel Steinmetz, dayan of Square Chassidim of Boro
Park and representative of the Squarer Rebbe, began the new cycle.
Rabbi
Shraga Sheinfeld, president of Histadrus HaRabbanim, spoke about
Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik’s connection to the Rebbe. He recalled
participating in the Yud Shvat 5740 farbrengen. He had
taken Rabbi Soloveitchik home after the farbrengen and
heard how impressed he was by the Rebbe. Among other things, Rabbi
Soloveitchik admitted that when he spoke for even five minutes he
would prepare notes as reference, but the Rebbe spoke for hours on
many topics with no notes at all!
He
also mentioned Rabbi Fisher of London and his impression after
sitting at a farbrengen for seven hours. He was simply
amazed by the wonderful sichos, which covered all parts of
Torah, Nigla and Chassidus. He also mentioned a few
incidents involving Rabbi Soloveitchik illustrating how highly he
regarded the study of Rambam.
The
final speaker was Rabbi Gavriel Tzinner. Ever since he received a
directive from the Rebbe to speak at siyumei ha’Rambam,
he has participated in every single annual siyum to date.
He related that the Rebbe once said that the number of sections in
Rambam (83) correspond to the 83 illnesses. Rabbi Tzinner noted
that the Rebbe announced the takana to learn Rambam in his
83rd year.
At
the close of the event, a new calendar was distributed for the
year’s study of Rambam. Rabbi Butman thanked Rabbi Meir Gutnick
for sponsoring the evening, and thanked his son, Rabbi Y.Y.
Butman, for organizing the event. Eli Lipsker’s Boys Choir
concluded the program with niggunei Chabad and songs of the
Redemption.