There’s something grounding about watching people come together over shared purpose—especially when that purpose spans generations, backgrounds, and perspectives.
At MetLife Stadium, nearly 100,000 people filled the stands not for a game, but for the 13th Siyum HaShas—marking the completion of the Talmud cycle, where participants study a page of Talmud each day for over seven years. It was a rare kind of moment: joyful, emotional, and deeply rooted in something bigger than any one individual.
And yet, as monumental as it felt, it was also about something small and consistent—showing up each day, page by page. That quiet kind of consistency runs through so many efforts happening right now. In programs like Kesher Yehudi bring people together for one-on-one learning, often bridging social and cultural divides in the process. There’s no fanfare—just conversation, empathy, and a growing sense of mutual respect.
In classrooms across the U.S., thousands of middle schoolers are engaged in daily Mishnah study through All Mishnah Jr., a program to grow thanks to engaging materials, strong leadership, and tools like the ArtScroll Mishnah series that make learning more accessible for young students. Each day, another page, another spark of curiosity.
Much of this work is made possible thanks to a network of people who care deeply—not for recognition, but for results. Supporters like Ralph Rieder, and others have helped ensure these initiatives not only continue but thrive. Their involvement tends to happen offstage, but the effects are felt every day. Because lasting change rarely announces itself. It shows up in small steps, steady hands, and people who choose to invest where it matters most.