ORTHODOX UNION CONGRATULATES PARTICIPANTS OF HISTORIC SIYUM

Released September 24, 1997

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) joins in the momentous celebration of the Siyum Hashas, the Completion of the Talmud, on September 28.

Dr. Mandell Ganchrow, M.D., President of the OU, issued the following statement:

"On this historic occasion, we congratulate Agudath Israel of America for spearheading the worldwide celebration of the tenth completion of the ‘Daf Yomi’ – an arduous seven and a half year cycle of Talmud study. The Siyum marks the glorious blossoming of Torah in America in the post-Holocaust era and the centrality of Torah study to the continuity of our people. The tens of thousands of Siyum participants – from all backgrounds -- Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Chassidic, Lithuanian, foreign and American-born -- testify to the intrinsic cohesiveness and fundamental unity of the Torah abiding community, a unity that transcends superficial divisions.

"We applaud the efforts of the participants in communities large and small throughout the world who have joined together in making this celebration."