(Courtesy of Cross River Bank) It is one of life’s little paradoxes.
While more than 90,000 people are breathlessly counting down the moments until they unite with one heart and soul at MetLife Stadium in culmination of the current Daf Yomi cycle, organizers of the 13th Global Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi are willing the hands of time to move just a little slower as they race to ensure that every detail of this historic celebration of limud Torah is executed to perfection.
While taking a break from the numerous last-minute preparations that have blurred the lines between day and night, prominent askanim, senior Agudah representatives and members of the siyum committee took advantage of an opportunity to recognize one of the siyum’s founding sponsors, Cross River Bank, at a November 25 event. Well known as a successful financial institution where Torah values, daily minyanim, a fully stocked beit midrash and frequent shiurim are part of the culture, Cross River is extending its commitment to Torah values with a sponsorship of the newly launched Daf Yomi Chaburah to bring yeshiva-style learning to Daf Yomi.
Cross River founder and CEO Yaakov Gade was lauded for his continued efforts to be machzik Torah, investing both time and resources to bring Rav Meir Shapiro’s vision to life. Gade, who will be completing Shas for the third time, noted that he hopes to see the siyum inspire many to join a local Daf Yomi Chaburah, an initiative designed to resonate with the younger generation, and to inspire thousands more to commit to completing all of Shas.
The meeting took place in the Manhattan offices of Shlomo Werdiger, chairman of the Agudah’s board of trustees. Werdiger observed that the siyum has precipitated an influx of new blood, promoting Daf Yomi in unprecedented ways in a variety of age groups. Those thoughts were echoed by Shmuel Yosef Rieder, chairman of the siyum, who told Gade that his dedication to the Daf Yomi Chaburah has proven to be a source of inspiration to the many members of the siyum’s numerous committees, as well as the Agudah board.
Others present at the meeting included Shmuli Rosenberg of the siyum; Yehuda Dewick, Chesky Eider and Shalom Stein of the Daf Yomi Chaburah; Yehuda Zachter of Chavrei HaSiyum; several well known askanim; Leah Zagelbaum, the Agudah’s vice president for media affairs; Rabbi Naftali Miller, the Agudah’s national director of development; and Rabbi Shai Markowitz, director of the Agudah’s Lefkowitz Leadership Initiative.
Seeing representatives of the siyum’s many components honoring Cross River for its efforts was a gratifying experience, said Rabbi Miller.
“Knowing that we have individuals like Yaakov Gade, who are strongly committed to seeing Torah study spread far and wide, is inspiring,” Rabbi Miller said. “With Cross River as our partner, we know that the energy that we see being generated now before the siyum will continue not only through January 1, but for months and years afterwards. We look forward to seeing the Daf Yomi Chaburah and all of the siyum’s learning initiatives becoming true success stories that will take limud Torah to unprecedented heights in every corner of the world.”
For more information on the Daf Yomi Chaburah visit www.TheChaburah.org.
