Good evening!
I am speaking reluctantly and leading this Siyum only because Nancy asked me to.
On behalf of the entire family I would like to thank all of you whose efforts made this Siyum possible. I would especially like to thank Avi and Shuli for hosting this Siyum.
A Siyum marks the end or completion of our task, but learning Torah is a task that is never complete, so we say the Hadran, a formalistic recitation celebrating our accomplishment and declaring our intention to return and repeat the task.
A special effort has been made to complete all Six orders of the Mishnayos, in honor of Avi, within a short 30 day timeline, the 30th day, today, being the end of Shloshim, the second of three mourning periods. (Shiva, shloshim & the 12 month period observed for parents). It took many volunteers to accomplish this Herculean task, but we all accomplished it together, and like "Mighty" Mouse WE "Saved the day".
We specifically do mishnayos rather than other works because the word mishna משנה״" consists of the same hebrew letters as the hebrew word for soul, Nishama "נשמה" and our goal is to elevate Avi's soul by our learning.
I believe that each person's soul influenced the volume or mesechta that they volunteered to study for this occasion. For instance, without much thought, I chose Yivamos, a volume considered complicated by many but whose main topic deals with the death of a brother. A childless brother who predeceases creates a bond between his wife or wives and his surviving paternal brother. This bond is known as a " zekukah" and creates numerous halachik complications and obligations for all parties involved.
Yet, to fully understand these complications an understanding of "family" and "human nature" is required, an attribute I believe Avi excelled at.
For those who participated, I invite you all to think about the choice of Mishnayos you made and how it affords you a connection to Avi.
On many occasions during my study of Yivamos, I found it extraordinarily difficult to maintain my composure, as the main theme of a brother that predeceases, was too close for comfort.
Whenever my emotions took over I was eventually able to put my emotional pain aside by reminding myself that our collective grief would pass and we will be able to celebrate Avi's life. Today, with the end of Shloshim, we start that celebration with this Siyum and the Hadran.
The hadran is the formal recitation that precedes the special celebratory Kaddish. This celebratory Kaddish is not a mourner's Kaddish, but one of celebration, praising G-d.
it is common practice for one person to say this Kaddish, after completion of the recitation of the hadran and for all present to respond. I ask you in advance to respond having the elevation of Avi's neshama in mind, particularly before you respond to the phrase יהי שמי רבה״".
Prior to the Hadran I will complete the last Mishna in Yivamos to formally complete our collective task.
Thank you all for joining us to celebrate Avi's life and to elevate his Neshama.
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