Orthodox Union’s Torah Initiatives and Upper West Side Community Celebrate Siyum on Maseches Sotah

24 May 2023
OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer speaks about living united as a Torah community at OU’s Torah Initiatives’ Maseches Sotah siyum

Over 100 learners from the Upper West Side and the broader New York area celebrated the completion of Maseches Sotah on Sunday at a siyum hosted by the Orthodox Union’s Torah Initiatives at Young Israel of the West Side.

Participants enjoyed sessions by OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer, who spoke about living united as a Torah community, and OU Kosher Chief Operating Officer Rabbi Moshe Elefant, who addressed pressing questions in a Q&A on contemporary kashrus issues. 

The OU’s Torah Initiatives department launched the All Daf app in 2020, at the beginning of the current daf yomi cycle. Currently, All Daf is used by tens of thousands for their daf yomi, Yerushalmi, Oraysa and other gemara learning. The department also runs All Mishnah and All Parsha platforms to facilitate consistent mishnah and parsha study, respectively. The apps make Torah study easily accessible through recorded classes and videos, a personal learning tracker and more. Combined, the three apps have garnered over 100,000 downloads to date.

OU Kosher COO and Executive Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Moshe Elefant answers contemporary kashrus questions in a Q&A at the OU’s Torah Initiatives’ Maseches Sotah siyum

OU Kosher COO and Executive Rabbinic Coordinator Rabbi Moshe Elefant said:

“What better way to celebrate completing a masechta, than with more learning? The participants showed genuine curiosity and interest in Torah study. For many, this was not their first All Daf milestone, and it will certainly not be their last.”

All Torah Director Rabbi Moshe Schwed said:

All Torah Director Rabbi Moshe Schwed speaks at OU’s Torah Initiatives’ Maseches Sotah siyum

“This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate participants’ accomplishments with the Upper West Side community. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our Torah and kosher resources with local communities in an impactful way.”

OU’s Torah Initiatives Executive Director Rabbi Moshe Brandsdorfer said:

“We were glad to have the opportunity to meet some of the people benefitting from our learning programs. Completing a masechta is particularly timely during these days immediately preceding Shavuos, the chag of kabolas haTorah.”

For more information or to learn a masechta, visit alltorah.org or download the All Daf app from the app store.

Left to right: Josh Goldberg, a sponsor of the OU’s Torah Initiatives’ siyum, with All Torah Director Rabbi Moshe Schwed
Participants enjoy OU’s Torah Initiatives’ Maseches Sotah siyum at Young Israel of the West Side