On Thursday, December 19, Ma’ayanot celebrated Torah with a series of special events related to Masechet Sanhedrin, which both Daf Yomi and Mishna Yomit began on that day. Over 100 students committed to learn Mishna Yomit, and four students even took on Daf Yomi. Sophomores Sophia Landau and Yehudis Muller were “inspired by each other to start learning Daf Yomi. We were interested in the daily discipline and pushing ourselves to make learning outside of school a habit.”

The learning began with a special program for all juniors and seniors. Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, director of the Beth Din of America (and father of Temima, ‘25) discussed “The Modern Beth Din and Its Roots in Masechet Sanhedrin,” together with Rabbi Donny Besser, director of Torah Enrichment at Ma’ayanot and a dayan on the Beth Din. Talmud teacher Miriam Schwartz started off the learning of the first two Mishnayot, and Rabbi Besser, who organized the day’s events, shared multiple resources to support students in their continued learning.

The learning culminated with a Siyum HaShas Daf Yomi by Ma’ayanot history teacher Jeremy Ginsburg, who marked his completion of Shas, and with Ma’ayanot madricha Tzivia Major (‘20), who has been learning Daf Yomi since her senior year at Ma’ayanot and has just completed Masechet Bava Batra. Tzivia modeled for students what they can achieve a mere four years after graduation. Both speakers inspired the students with their dedication and humor, and shared tips for successful daily learning. Although humble and wanting only a modest celebration, Mr. Ginsburg explained that he made the school a part of his siyum because “there is educational value for the students to see someone who is not a Judaic studies teacher, not a rabbi, set aside time to learn seriously every day.” At Ma’ayanot, teachers in all departments exemplify the school’s values and imbue students with a love of Torah learning.