This past Shabbos at Chabad of West Orange, something extraordinary happened. Something that, on the surface, may have looked like a father and son finishing a volume of Gemara—but to me, it was so much more. It was a moment of generational healing, of purpose, and of deep spiritual joy.
Watching Aydan finish his very first Masechta—Makos—was surreal. Not just because he’s only 10 years old. Not just because he stuck with it day in and day out. But because he chose it. He chose to show up every single day, with his Gemara in hand, curiosity in his eyes, and a heart full of sincerity. We learned together, and together we made a siyum that felt like a celebration of so much more than just learning.
It felt like a celebration of resilience.
For me, this siyum wasn’t just about completing a Masechta. It was about reclaiming what once felt lost. About rewriting a story I never thought could be told. There was a time in my life when darkness and doubt took the front seat, when joy felt far away. And yet—here I was, standing beside my son, side by side, as we both said the words “Hadran alach Maseches Makos” (“We will return to you,” meaning that the completion of the masechta is not the end of the journey but just another step).
My in-laws joined us for Shabbos to celebrate. They too felt the nachas, the depth, the miracle of a child rising with Torah as his guide. The kiddush at Chabad was filled with joy, not just in sound and taste, but in the feeling that something holy was unfolding.
This is what it means when we say it’s not about the Daf (page or folio), it’s about the Yomi (daily). The day-in, day-out devotion. The quiet victories. The transformation that occurs when Torah becomes part of our rhythm, our identity, our bond.
It reminded me that no matter where we come from, no matter what we’ve been through—there’s always a way back. A path forward. And sometimes, that path looks like sitting next to your son, learning a blatt of Gemara, and realizing that your past doesn’t define you—your next step does.
May this be the first of many siyumim together, and may the light of Torah continue to guide us through all the chapters still unwritten.
Yuda Sigler lives in West Orange with his wife, Caryn, and their two sons, Aydan and Jojo. They are proud members of Chabad of West Orange.
