In a powerful display of אהבת התורה, hundreds of participants gathered at Lake Terrace Hall on Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, for the Mishna Rishona Siyum.

The unforgettable מעמד לכבודה של תורה celebrated the achievements of Masmidei Mishna Rishona globally – and participants attended from as far as Canada. Mishna Rishona is an all-phone Torah platform featuring all Mishnayos of Shisha Sidrei Mishna – each Mishna taught by the noted Maggid Shiur, HaRav Fischel Schachter.

The Siyum was generously sponsored in memory of HaRav Daniel Lifshitz – לע״נ ר’ דניאל בן ר’ שמואל אריה. Rav Lifshitz was a third generation, American-born, Frum Yid who never strayed from Yiddishkeit with his exemplary Yashrus and Ehrlichkeit.

The Siyum celebrated hundreds of thousands of Mishnayos learned – culminating in 200 Siyumim on Sidrei Mishnayos – learned exclusively via the Mishna Rishona phone platform. Additionally, at the Siyum, participants collectively completed multiple sedarim together in an Avos Ubanim-style seder limud. Boys traveled from across the Tristate, Philadelphia, Maryland and even as far as Canada to attend this special event.

The program began with the Director of Mishna Rishona, Reb Avraham Yosef (AJ) Rabinowitz emphasizing that this Siyum was a celebration for both; the Masmidim and parents alike. It was an evening to celebrate the Mishnayos learned and also to recognize the Chinuch of these Masmidim – the Chinuch of “Anu Ratzim” that is on full display by the Mishna Rishona Masmidim yearning to complete Mishnayos.

Divrei Pesicha was delivered by the renown Maggid Shiur Rabbi Yaakov Zev Smith. He emphasized that every Masmid that learns on Mishna Rishona is truly considered a Mesayem. Quoting the Vilna Gaon, he explained that a Siyum celebrates not only completion, but the עצם קבלה and commitment to continue growing in תורה. He also shared the well-known יסוד of the Chofetz Chaim that the greatest source of ברכה and ישועה comes through לימוד התורה itself.

Rav Smith’s inspiring address was followed by the Seder limud and then the evening’s highlight – the Siyumim.

For the Siyum, each Mesayem was called up to the podium by the Program Coordinator, Reb Yehuda Yaroslawitz. His dedication and tireless efforts shaped the Siyum into a remarkable event. At the podium, the Mesaymim grouped together by Seder completed, learned the last Mishna in each Seder, recited the first Hadran followed by leibidike dancing. There was a special Siyum where seven Mesyamim made a Siyum on all of Shisha Sidrei Mishna learned with Mishna Rishona!

Highlighting the chashivus of the Siyumim, it was an honor to be graced by the presence of Rabbi Yehoshua Abba Busel, R”M of BMG and Rav of High Street Shul. Rav Busel addressed the incredible כוח התורה and unique סגולה and ברכה connected to making a Siyum. He underscored the tremendous accomplishments already achieved by Mishna Rishona and encouraged participants to continue spreading the program so even more boys can become connected to consistent לימוד התורה.

Rav Busel’s Divrei Torah set the tone of התעוררות for all assembled to recite the Tefila of והערב נא, in unison. With that powerful atmosphere of שמחה and כבוד התורה the Mesaymim joined together to recite the remainder of the Hadran and completing the Siyum. Over eighty Mesaymim received personal certificates and seforim sets as gifts in recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments in לימוד התורה on the Mishna Rishona system.

Rav Fischel Schachter, the Maggid Shiur of Mishna Rishona, delivered the Dvar HaSiyum focusing on the power of רצון and consistency in achieving lasting קניני תורה. Quoting the message of Rav Pam זצ״ל, he encouraged the boys that even small amounts of daily learning eventually lead to substantial accomplishments.

Adding to the simcha and inspiration of the event, Rav Schachter himself also made a Siyum on Seder Nezikin. This Siyum marked the completion of this Seder for Mishna Rishona Phase II – the Yiddish track. The Yiddish track will be publicly launched בעז״ה in the near future.

The atmosphere of simcha and enthusiasm was elevated by dynamic singing and music from Yisroel Werdyger, Duddy Jacoby, and their talented team, together with a beautifully catered סעודת מצוה befitting such a Maamed.

The evening concluded with leibidike dancing and tremendous feelings of pride and התעוררות for all to witness firsthand the growth of a new generation of בני תורה utilizing their free time for meaningful Torah learning. The sight of hundreds of boys singing and dancing in celebration of Torah learning left a lasting רושם on all who attended.

Over the past year alone, Mishna Rishona has inspired 5,471 Masmidim worldwide, who have collectively learned an astounding 408,405 Mishnayos and completed 29,694 review quizzes. With over 1,000 Mishnayos learned daily, Mishna Rishona continues to transform free time into meaningful Torah accomplishments.

Planning for next year’s Siyum is already בעז״ה underway as the program continues to expand and inspire even more boys to grow in התמדה and אהבת התורה.

To learn more about Mishna Rishona, please visit our website at MishnaRishona.org. For questions, please contact the office at 929-333-5154.

Mishna Rishona extends heartfelt appreciation to the Rabbanim, parents, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters whose dedication made this extraordinary מעמד possible — and most importantly, to the thousands of boys whose התמדה and אהבת התורה continue to inspire כלל ישראל.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)