by Inna Pasternak
Just over 6 years ago I hosted a Siyum Hashas at Havurat Shalom. I was my second time finishing, and I was eager to have others share in the celebration. We learned the end of Meseches Nidah together, and then the entire first amud of Meseches Brachos. The room was full and I greatly appreciate so many people turning out to support my accomplishment. As we finished, I joked to the assembled crowd, who were not yet "doing the daf" as the kids now call it, "Wasn't this fun? Don't you want to do it every day?"
To my very pleasant surprise, a few of them said yes. We stared meeting once a week to review the content of that week's dapim and diagram out the flow of what we'd learned. Two months later, we planned out our first group siyum. We'd planned to meet in the Havurah and learn the end of Brachos and the beginning of Shabbes together, and celebrate with a nosh and a l'chaim. Unfortunately, that was March of 2020, and I ended up missing the event while quarantined for COVID-19. I figured I'd be back to joining the weekly reviews when my 2 weeks of isolation were up, but Hashem had different plans.
Soon, we all found ourselves locked down and navigating life on Zoom. But suddenly we also had a lot more time on our hands. The weekly in-person review sessions were replaced by daily Zoom group learning sessions. On Shabbes, we'd meet outside in the Hav's backyard, sitting twelve feet apart and wearing masks as we hunched over books and printouts. Occasionally another Havnick would happen by on their afternoon walk. "What are you all up to here?" they'd ask. And slowly our group grew.
Over time, as vaccines rolled out and furloughs ended, it got harder and harder to meet every day as a group. We started to split off, some learning in pairs or threes, others studying on their own. For a while we'd still meet as a whole group on Shabbes afternoons at the Hav, but over the years that has also faded away. The whole group now only regularly meets for siyums.
Other things changed over time too. New learners joined while others dropped off. My havrusa and I started dating, got married, and had our first child. Now, a regular feature of our siyums is me pacing around with a sleeping baby, or gently holding their hands to keep them from ripping pages.
Tonight, we are meeting for another siyum as we finish meseches zevachim. B"H, in just another year and a half we'll celebrate the Siyum Hashas again, this time as a group of learners. Who knows what the next year and half will bring, or the next seven and a half year cycle, for that matter. The text is always the same, but the readers keep changing. G-d willing, we'll meet again to toast life and learning!
To my very pleasant surprise, a few of them said yes. We stared meeting once a week to review the content of that week's dapim and diagram out the flow of what we'd learned. Two months later, we planned out our first group siyum. We'd planned to meet in the Havurah and learn the end of Brachos and the beginning of Shabbes together, and celebrate with a nosh and a l'chaim. Unfortunately, that was March of 2020, and I ended up missing the event while quarantined for COVID-19. I figured I'd be back to joining the weekly reviews when my 2 weeks of isolation were up, but Hashem had different plans.
Soon, we all found ourselves locked down and navigating life on Zoom. But suddenly we also had a lot more time on our hands. The weekly in-person review sessions were replaced by daily Zoom group learning sessions. On Shabbes, we'd meet outside in the Hav's backyard, sitting twelve feet apart and wearing masks as we hunched over books and printouts. Occasionally another Havnick would happen by on their afternoon walk. "What are you all up to here?" they'd ask. And slowly our group grew.
Over time, as vaccines rolled out and furloughs ended, it got harder and harder to meet every day as a group. We started to split off, some learning in pairs or threes, others studying on their own. For a while we'd still meet as a whole group on Shabbes afternoons at the Hav, but over the years that has also faded away. The whole group now only regularly meets for siyums.
Other things changed over time too. New learners joined while others dropped off. My havrusa and I started dating, got married, and had our first child. Now, a regular feature of our siyums is me pacing around with a sleeping baby, or gently holding their hands to keep them from ripping pages.
Tonight, we are meeting for another siyum as we finish meseches zevachim. B"H, in just another year and a half we'll celebrate the Siyum Hashas again, this time as a group of learners. Who knows what the next year and half will bring, or the next seven and a half year cycle, for that matter. The text is always the same, but the readers keep changing. G-d willing, we'll meet again to toast life and learning!
Inna Pasternak is a member of Havurat Shalom.
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