Editors’ note: The following letter was sent to the Daf Yomi Commission by the author, expressing hakarat hatov to his father, Highland Park’s own Max Wisotsky, for starting the daf at age 87.

The grand siyum we experience is so much bigger and greater than the hadran. If offers us the opportunity to be inspired: by “the boxer,” the man with the plan,” the survivors, our gedolei Yisrael and countless others. I don’t want to wait till next siyum, iy”H, to share with you this story.

That cold winter day in January 2020, one attendee was encouraged by his son and grandchildren to start the next cycle. He had attended RJJ elementary school in the 1930s and early 1940s and then continued with a secular education from high school through his doctorate. He’s most certainly one of the brightest individuals I know, but had little in the way of formal advanced talmudic studies. He continues to take tremendous pride in his grandsons’ learning in many of the finest yeshivos we have today.

We suggested Daf Hachaim’s approach since it has both the text synchronized with audio with an intro and summary. Amazingly, he took to it and not only has (already) completed Maseches Brachos but is thirstily making his way through Maseches Shabbos as well. Needless to say, this man is my 87-year-old father (ka”h). Many of those in the tri-state area read his countless letters in local (secular and Jewish) media and he wanted to share his story to encourage others, especially retirees, to devote time to the daf. I felt strongly that I wanted it to come from me so he, and the rest of the world, know how proud we all are of him and his many accomplishments in his education, advancement of science, and now Daf Yomi.

May Dad go machayil el chayil and be present in good health at the next grand siyum in Yerushalayim b’vias goel tzedek.

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