Hosting a celebration for a crowd of 50,000 (over 120,00 if
you count nationwide satellite hook-ups to the festivities)
takes more than a little advance planning.
Just ask Agudath Israel of America staff members who are
already hard at work -- indeed, have been for several months
now -- preparing for an event scheduled for March 1, 2005:
the 11th Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi.
"Of course around here we say the Siyum is only ten
months away," says Agudath Israel vice president for finance
and administration Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin. "Making all the
logistical arrangements for such a mammoth gathering requires
an incredible amount of time and manpower."
The first order of business, explains Rabbi Gertzulin, was to
get an idea of the number and type -- men's, women's, daf
yomi groups -- of seating requests that will need to be
accommodated. Newspaper ads requesting that people fax, mail
or email that information to Agudah national headquarters
quickly yielded thousands of responses.
"We're really grateful that so many people took the time to
respond to our inquiries and help us plan accordingly," says
the Agudah leader. He notes that those who sent in the
seating information will be first to receive reservation
applications, which the Agudah is planning to mail the week
of June 7.
The 11th Siyum HaShas, which will celebrate the culmination
of the last seven-and-a-half year cycle of Talmud study by
Daf Yomi participants around the world, will be held in the
Continental Airlines Arena, located in the Meadowlands Sports
Complex in Rutherford, NJ, and in New York's Madison Square
Garden. Each site will be graced with the presence of
venerated Gedolei Torah, and a single, fully
interactive program is planned.
Anyone who did not submit seating information but would like
to receive reservation applications, should fax their full
name and address to 646.254.1610 as soon as possible.
Observes Rabbi Gertzulin, "It's really incredible how,
notwithstanding the dozens of projects and programs conducted
by Agudath Israel, nothing elicits a more passionate desire
to be part of a Klal Yisroel event than does this
celebration in honor of Torah.
"We are indeed looking forward to the fulfillment of its
enormous potential for Kiddush Hashem and limud
Torah."
