A Historic and Uplifting Siyum HaRambam in Moscow

In an extraordinary display of kavod haTorah, thousands of Anash, shluchim, and members of the broader Jewish community gathered in Moscow to celebrate the 45th Siyum HaRambam. The central event was held under the leadership of the Chief Rabbi of Russia and shliach of the Rebbe, Harav Berel Lazar, shlita.

The maamad took place in the magnificent concert hall at “Dream Island,” located just minutes from the Kremlin. For the first time since the hall was built, it hosted an event dedicated entirely to kedushah. The sight of thousands of Yidden traveling through central Moscow by metro and public transportation, making their way with simchah shel mitzvah to celebrate the completion of the Rambam, created a profound Kiddush Hashem.

Fulfilling the Rebbe’s Sacred Takanah This marked the completion of the 45th cycle of the daily Rambam study—Mishneh Torah (Yad HaChazakah)—as instituted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Through this powerful takanah, tens of thousands of Jews around the world unite in a shared daily limud, completing the entire corpus of Torah shebe’al peh in halachah each year.

In Russia—a land that within recent memory experienced profound spiritual desolation—the expansion of daily Rambam study in all three tracks established by the Rebbe (Sefer HaMitzvos, one perek per day, and three perakim per day) is especially meaningful. In light of the tremendous growth, it was decided to mark this Siyum in a manner befitting the resurgence of Torah life, with a clear goal: to broaden the circle of lomdei Rambam across all ages and backgrounds, strengthening kvius ittim laTorah throughout the country.

The initiative was led by Harav Berel Lazar, shlita, who guided the preparations for months in advance. Under the direction of Merkaz Torah Moscow, the event was organized with meticulous attention to detail, reflecting true kavod haTorah and kavod haChassidus.

The evening opened with the completion of the three Rambam study tracks: Sefer HaMitzvos: The siyum was made by young Yaakov Yehuda Wilansky, who that very day began putting on tefillin in preparation for his Bar Mitzvah. With chassidishe warmth and clarity, he explained the final halachah—an inspiring symbol of the Rebbe’s takanah being embraced by the next generation.

One Perek Per Day: The siyum was completed by Rabbi Dan HaKohen Lokshin, who delivers the daily Rambam shiur at Merkaz Torah and is marbitz Torah in Moscow.

Three Perakim Per Day: The siyum was made by philanthropist R’ Yehuda Davidov, chairman of the 770 Russia Foundation. In recognition of his and his family’s dedicated support of Torah initiatives and this historic event, he was presented with an extraordinary gift—pages from one of the earliest printed editions of the Rambam, dating back to the year 1474.

To inaugurate the 46th Rambam cycle, Harav Berel Lazar, shlita, addressed the assembled thousands and taught the opening halachos with which the Rambam begins his Yad HaChazakah: “Yesod haYesodos v’Amud haChachmos—there exists a First Being.”

In his powerful address, he emphasized the unique koach of Rambam study in our generation as a preparation for the geulah ha’amitis v’hashleimah, when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem.” He called upon every participant not only to strengthen their own daily learning, but to influence others to join one of the Rambam tracks—fulfilling the Rebbe’s directive to spread Torah outward and unite Klal Yisrael through shared learning.

His words, woven with nigleh and pnimiyus haTorah, left a deep and lasting impression.

The program was skillfully emceed by Rabbi Chaim Danzinger, shliach and Rav of Rostov. At one point, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Wilansky, Director of Merkaz Torah Moscow, led the entire audience in the recitation of Tehillim on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Eretz HaKodesh—an especially moving moment of achdus across continents.

The musical portion of the evening was led by the renowned chassidishe singer R’ Avraham Fried, who uplifted the crowd for over an hour with beloved niggunim. Among them were songs he had sung decades earlier at the dawn of the remarkable revival of Russian Jewry.

In a particularly emotional moment, individuals who had been to his historical concert in Moscow some 35 years ago—at the very beginning of the Jewish renaissance in Russia—joined him once again on stage. The young children of those early years have become pillars of Torah and today serve as Shluchim, raising and educating the next generation of Jewish children.

The evening stood as a powerful declaration: the light of Torah and Chassidus shines brightly in the heart of Moscow. The Rebbe’s takanah of Rambam continues to unite Jews across the globe in daily learning, serving as a tangible preparation for the fulfillment of the Rambam’s own concluding words—anticipating the time when the world will be filled with Divine knowledge with the coming of Moshiach, teikef u’miyad mamash.