The Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar of Jerusalem, Israel, was the Keynote Guest Speaker at the 40th Annual Siyum HaRambam Celebration. This annual event, celebrating the Completion of Study of the magnum opus of Maimonides (the Rambam), was attended by ten thousand men, women, and children, and was held on Eastern Parkway, in front of 770 Eastern Parkway, the Rebbe's Shul.  It was also televised internationally to congregants in Israel, Europe, South America, the former Soviet Union, and Asia.

The event heard remarks from Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar of Russia, Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, Rabbi Yosef Braun, of the Crown Heights Beis Din, and Rabbi Yosef Hecht, Rabbi of Eilat, Israel. In his keynote address, Chief Rabbi Amar inspired and electrified the crowd, calling on all to emulate the teachings of the Rambam and of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Chief Rabbi received a standing ovation as he concluded his speech with a heartfelt prayer for the immediate revelation of Moshiach, and the return of all our nation to the Holy Land.

* Photos by Shachar Azran

Rabbi Amar addresses the crown of thousands of participants on Eastern Parkway

Rabbi Amar makes a L'Chaim with Rabbi Yosef Carlebach

Rabbi Amar thanks one of the events organizers, Mendel Mintz