More than 600 men, women, and children gathered in West Rogers Park, Chicago, on Hey Adar for a grand community-wide Siyum HaRambam, marking the completion of the annual Rambam learning cycle in a powerful display of unity and celebration.

For the past 25 years, Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Binyamin Perlstein and Eliyahu Nosson Silberberg, has hosted the Chicago Siyum HaRambam. Over the years, whenever the Shlosha Perakim and Perek Echad tracks concluded together, additional local mosdos would join in sponsoring the communal celebration.

Two years ago, additional members of the hanhala established a dedicated Va’ad to elevate the annual Siyum HaRambam and transform it into a major highlight of the year. Baruch Hashem, the effort has borne fruit. Last year’s gathering drew a tremendous crowd, and this year organizers set out to make the event even greater, fulfilling the ideal of berov am hadras melech.

The Siyum took place in a central shul in West Rogers Park and was attended by over 600 participants from across the Chicago Jewish community. The program featured uplifting music by the Mesivta band and choir and was described by attendees as a true Kiddush Hashem.

The evening’s featured speaker was Rabbi YY Jacobson, whose keynote address inspired the large crowd.

Numerous local rabbonim honored the event with their presence, including Yona Reiss, Av Beis Din of the CRC, along with other rabbonim from across the city.

The Siyum was also connected with the 12th yahrtzeit of Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, the late Head Shliach of Illinois. His sons, Rabbi Meir Shimon Moscowitz and Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Moscowitz, addressed the gathering, sharing words of inspiration.

Rabbi Moshe Binyamin Perlstein completed the Rambam, serving as the mesayem, while Rabbi Baruch Hertz, Rov of Bnei Ruven and the Kehilla Chabad Anash of Chicago, had the honor of beginning the 46th cycle of Rambam.

Serving as master of ceremonies was Rabbi Menachem Schechter, mashpia at the Mesivta, who guided the program throughout the evening.

Two special video presentations were shown during the event. The first, titled “The Rambam Effect II,” is a sequel to last year’s video, in which members of Anash talk about their unique journey in the daily Rambam study and the effect it has on them. The second, titled with the Rambam’s words “Katan K’Gadol,” featured community boys who took on the study of the daily Rambam.

The event was co-sponsored by David and Eda Schotenstein, Avi and Talor Fine of Fine Lock and Key, in memory of their son Menachem Mendel A”H, and Yehoshua Popper and family.

The Siyum was made possible in partnership with the following mosdos: Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, Cheder Lubavitch, Congregation Bnei Ruven, Congregation FREE, Lubavitch Chabad of Skokie, and Congregation Bais Menachem.

To help cover the costs of the Siyum Harambam and future Rambam initiatives, visit: http://lmchicago.org/vaadsiyumharambam

WATCH

The Rambam Effect II:

Katan K’Gadol:

Event Replay: