UK rabbis join over 90,000 Jews in New Jersey to mark end of Talmud study cycle

A UK delegation of United Synagogue rabbis has joined over 90,000 mostly Orthodox Jews at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to mark Siyum HaShas, the completion of the study of the entire Talmud.

The 7.5-year cycle is known as Daf Yomi, since participants study a one full page of the 2,711-page text each day. The event on Sunday, organised by Agudath Israel of America, was the 13th completion of the cycle.

The Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue was represented at the event by rabbis Nicky Liss, Barry Lerer, Sam Taylor and Yoni Birnbaum.

Rabbi Birnbaum, of the Hadley Wood Jewish Community, who has just completed teaching a study cycle, hailed the event as “the most powerful statement of Jewish unity and confidence in the future on the planet.”

“Particularly in light of the recent challenges and threats we have faced as a people, to join together with 100,000 others in celebration of the joy of our Torah heritage was immensely inspiring,” he said.

“Together with Jews of all walks of life, we felt proud to represent the United Synagogue and British Jewry at this remarkable event,” he added.

Meanwhile Rabbi Taylor, of Western Marble Arch, wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday the chance “to be with 92,000 Jewish people celebrating Torah learning and what it means to us with such incredible simcha was an experience I will never forget.”

Rabbi Taylor later told Jewish News it had been “particularly special sharing the occasion with other United Synagogue rabbis.”

Over 300 uniformed police were in the stadium, according to CBS New York.