The 13th Global Siyum Hashas of Daf YomiAgudath Israel of America.

[shaulyaakov]

Did anyone catch the fact they posted about the first Gemara being set by bomberg? I was surprised that made it through the editorial board.

[aygart]

You obviously didn't pass by my tailgate party

OUtside doesn't count. Definitely not

DDMS, just a few clicks. It was quite hot in the computer room.

[Mimo]

I was at Barclays, so I'll add my perspective on the setup there, as well as some thoughts on the overall program.

The place was pretty full, but not completely packed. It felt like it was very dominantly a charedi crowd - maybe majority chasidish, but not dominant. If it wasn't clear from the official seating capacity numbers (>80k vs <20k) Barclays feels tiny in comparison to Metlife. They did the seating by section, not seat. So you get to your section and pick any seat. That worked out well for me, since my $54 tickets were in one of the sections directly opposite the dais, with clear view of the video screen and access directly to the floor. We first sat maybe 5 rows up from the floor, and then back to around 10 rows up so we wouldn't have to crane our necks to watch the screen. When it came time for dancing, everyone was allowed down on the floor, even from the upper seating areas. Here's one of the (very shaky) videos I took:

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNrlG5RYILiCI6qj3mcn7xdrZWnjxoJvGR5iVQjTn2uHEHly3rnTM8jckLn0PCmGQ?key=eGxlRWQxazlmZ0RwcnhwNGdSRnZLVEd2U0ZCRkJR

The program at Barclays was mostly live hookup to Metlife, but with significant periods of in-house programming. Aside from the tefilah items (mincha/tehillim/kadeshim/kabalas ol malchus/maariv), the parts we had in house different from Metlife were divrei bracha from the Vyelipoler Rebbe in yiddish (vs R Malkiel in Metlife), some combination of the emcee (not sure who it was) and R Yerucham doing the siyum/hadran (vs R Shmuel in Metlife), and haschalas hashas from R Elya Ber Wachtfogel in yiddish (vs R Aharon Feldman in Metlife). All of the singing and dancing was in-house, except Helfgott, and for some reason ani maamin (which they then did again in-house).

I thought the siyum moments (R Gold, R Farhi, and R Lish) were very nice, and it made sense to do them from on the field instead of on the dais. The videography could've been better, in terms of all the close-in shots of the crowd - which I think is just unnecessary and more like a goyishe sporting event. This led to weird moments like the waving during ani maamin, the shots of people during davening, the kids crowding around during the siyum moments, etc. The pre-recorded stuff was fantastic (as it was last time). In particular the tribute to the kedoshim really packed a powerful punch - especially the parts from R Gifter and R Schwab. Both Rabbi Frand and Rabbi Schiff were excellent. Rabbi Reich was maybe disadvantaged by the later spot in the schedule, but I didn't really connect to his drasha in the same way. Would they do better to shorten the program in some way? Sure. But it's hard to 'trim the fat' with an event like this. I might have felt more strongly about it if I had been out in the cold though.

Thank you for the report I was looking in the heimishe press for it but none had any

[aygart]

Everyone's shirts were tucked in

They were covered by coats.

[hvaces42]

Did anyone catch the fact they posted about the first Gemara being set by bomberg? I was surprised that made it through the editorial board.

They think Bomberg was a Jew. I did notice that.

[shaulyaakov]

They think Bomberg was a Jew. I did notice that.

How do you know they think that? From his name?

[skyguy918]

In case anyone wants to find specific parts of the Metlife stream, here's an index. If someone wants to get fancy they can add direct links.

0:00:45 - Daf Yomi Around the World (Video)
0:03:05 - Mincha (?)
0:25:50 - Bruchim Haboim (R' Chaim Dovid Zwibel)
0:29:10 - Tehillim and Mi Sheberach (Rabbi Shlomo Mandel)
0:34:00 - Divrei Psicha (Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler)
0:45:25 - Siyum Moment #1 (Rabbi Leibish Lish)
0:48:40 - Divrei Brocha (Rebbi Yaakov Perlow)
1:00:35 - Heroes of the Daf (Video)
1:05:40 - Featured Address (Rabbi Yissocher Frand)
1:26:40 - You Too Can Become Great (Video - Masmidei Hasiyum)
1:31:35 - Siyum Mishnayos (Rabbi Nosson Sherman)
1:37:50 - Hadran (Rabbi Chaim Benoliel)
1:40:10 - Kaddish (Zafir?)
1:42:00 - Singing/Dancing
1:52:30 - Ki Heim Chayeinu (Video - Chavrei Hasiyum)
1:56:50 - Featured Address (Rabbi Aharon Schiff)
2:15:15 - Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (Video)
2:18:00 - Letter from R' Chaim (Rabbi Reuven Feinstein)
2:21:55 - Siyum Moment #2 (Rabbi Shlomo Farhi)
2:25:50 - What One Man Can Accomplish (Video - R' Meir Zlotowitz zt"l)
2:28:00 - DP Camp Gemara (Video) and Presentaion
2:31:30 - Siyum Hashas and Hadran (Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky)
2:41:40 - Kaddish (Schottenstein)
2:43:35 - Singing/Dancing
3:04:05 - The Impact of the Daf (Video - Chassanei Hashas)
3:08:15 - Haschalas Hashas (Rabbi Aharon Feldman)
3:21:10 - Siyum Moment #3 (Rabbi Yoel Gold)
3:25:40 - Featured Address (Rabbi Uren Reich)
3:46:20 - Zichor Yemos Olam (Video)
3:52:40 - Ani Maamin
3:59:10 - Kel Malei (Helfgott)
4:06:25 - Kaddish (Schoenberger)
4:08:10 - Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim/Sheimos (Novominsker Rebbe/Sanz Klausenberger Rebber
4:12:00 - Maariv (Rabbi Eliezer Ginsburg)
4:33:50 - Kaddish (?)
4:35:35 - Enhance Your Learning (Video)

[hvaces42]

How do you know they think that? From his name?

That would be my guess. Daniel Bomberg sounds like he was from a Yekke family and lives in Monsey today. 

[chevron]

4 hours and 35 minutes in the freezing cold? How did anyone think that was a good idea?

Why is there no retractable roof?

[Dan]

4 hours and 35 minutes in the freezing cold?

If you dress in enough warm layers it's really not a big deal at all. Much easier to dress for an event like this in 37 degrees than 97 degrees IMHO.
Not sure any of the cold complainers would have survived kayaking in Antarctica

[Tomorrow]

4 hours and 35 minutes in the freezing cold? How did anyone think that was a good idea?

Why is there no retractable roof?

Would have taken away x amount of seats, and the cost of rescheduling rain days was less than the projected profit from those seats. I'd assume now they would not have made the same decision based on what they get per seat due to how bad the Jets and Giants are now.

[chevron]

If you dress in enough warm layers it's really not a big deal at all. Must easier to dress for an event like this in 37 degrees than 97 degrees IMHO.
Not sure any of the cold complainers would have survived kayaking in Antarctica

That was decidedly more exciting

[TimT]

4 hours and 35 minutes in the freezing cold? How did anyone think that was a good idea?

Why is there no retractable roof?

That’s how we know who the real fans are.

[Dan]

Nothing can ever be perfect and the siyum was obviously no exception. But for perspective, if I had to leave after Mincha I would say it was still worth going to. I'm opinionated as anyone else, but I'm biting my tongue because even offering valid feedback doesn't come out right or feel justified.

What is wrong with expressing positive and/or negative feedback?
A beautiful event can always be improved for next time.

I didn’t say its wrong, it just doesn’t feel right.
It feels wrong to criticize without first stating all the positives of a beautiful event, and without being verbose - “it was a great event, but” - it puts the criticism on the same level as the positives.

I think some of the critics really enjoyed the event but it doesn’t read that way. It’s hard to have the patience to write a lengthy post.

For people who are kvetching at people's constructive criticism, don't forget that in 2012 the only stream was thanks to @jj1000:

https://vosizneias.com/2012/08/06/east-rutherford-nj-viewers-hail-student-whose-live-siyum-stream-reached-thousands/
https://collive.com/93000-and-a-savvy-lubavitcher/

People in the comments rightfully asked why there was no official stream and that was rectified this time around.

Constructive criticism can only help.

[cozmohoot]

They have 7 kosher stands operating during a football game, they only had 1 yesterday. Food is a huge part of every siyum, it's something I feel they should greatly improve for next time, even if it has to be sold.

For Agudah, highlighting the women supporting their husbands is about as progressive as they will get. Previous siyumim they were probably an afterthought, if mentioned much at all. Not that I think they should've done more.

You sure only 1 kosher stand?
I walked by one in the 300 section area and I believe someone said also in the 100 area..
I brought my own food so it didnt matter. Free coffee and tea was a nice touch.
The warmup room at section 315 was also nice!

[shaulyaakov]

You sure only 1 kosher stand?
I walked by one in the 300 section area and I believe someone said also in the 100 area..
I brought my own food so it didnt matter. Free coffee and tea was a nice touch.
The warmup room at section 315 was also nice!

Guess it was 2.

What warm up room?

[TimT]

For people who are kvetching at people's constructive criticism, don't forget that in 2012 the only stream was thanks to @jj1000:

https://vosizneias.com/2012/08/06/east-rutherford-nj-viewers-hail-student-whose-live-siyum-stream-reached-thousands/
https://collive.com/93000-and-a-savvy-lubavitcher/

People in the comments rightfully asked why there was no official stream and that was rectified this time around.

Constructive criticism can only help.

They realized if it’s anyway going to be streamed they may as well make some money on it.

[as2]

Guess it was 2.

What warm up room?

Several Bars/Stores were converted to warm up rooms, as they were enclosed and heated.

[Dan]

https://vosizneias.com/2012/08/06/east-rutherford-nj-viewers-hail-student-whose-live-siyum-stream-reached-thousands/
https://collive.com/93000-and-a-savvy-lubavitcher/

The comments on these articles

[dealfinder11]

4 hours and 35 minutes in the freezing cold? How did anyone think that was a good idea?

Why is there no retractable roof?

would cost an additional 800 million to build. In the end of the day, it's always about the money.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-can8217t-new-york-build-a-great-stadium-1391050376