A Siyum Summary
The standard celebration for completing a perek or significant amount of learning is the ubiquitous siyum. Aside from serving as a major incentive for students to keep on learning with vigor, the siyum makes an important statement to our talmidos: Every part of Torah is precious, valuable, and immeasurably special – and your hard work to gain knowledge and understand is a simcha to be celebrated.
If planning a siyum for your class is still a challenge, you’re not alone. Class dynamics, time, school policies and a host of other factors can make it a daunting task. Read on for valuable pointers from teachers who have their siyum systems down to a science.
The White Shirt
What’s a siyum without a white shirt? It’s important to keep track of the date – if Rosh Chodesh is the same week, it can be challenging for mothers laundry-wise.
The Program
“I find it challenging to come up with new ideas for siyum activities – as the years go on, everything becomes so common and passe.” Shana shares.
Rivky explains that she began taking the initiative to move beyond the standard “game–dance–skit–banner” format. While the girls may not be enthusiastic at first, she works together with them to create engaging and enjoyable activities, resulting in a meaningful and educational experience.
“It’s nice when the girls prepare and practice, but it consumes too much valuable learning time. I prefer that the activity be only during the siyum itself. This also gives the siyum program more structure, and is a decent review of the material,” is Chanie’s take.
On-the-Spot Siyum Ideas
Prepare cards with titles of scenes from the parsha, perek, or sefer. Each group of girls picks a card, spends a few minutes planning and practicing, and then performs the scene as the rest of the class tries to guess what they are portraying.
Assign each group an inyan or section of the material, then distribute art supplies and invite them to create an art project that reflects their topic. Switching up the medium—such as black-and-white oaktags, picture frames, canvas, dioramas, or tri-boards—can spark even more creativity.
Each group of girls receives—or bakes—a simple bakery sheet cake or plain sugar cookies, which they decorate based on an assigned concept or topic (for example, Birchas Yaakov, with each group representing a different Shevet).
Is there any classic song with words from the perek or about a limud in the perek that you can teach the class? Are there any audio/visual presentations on a related topic?
For teachers who like to think creatively, take some time to think into the content of the perek. Is there something unique you can turn into a siyum theme? (For example: the makkos, the travels of Bnei Yisrael, etc.)
The Menu
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- Try to avoid a potluck-style siyum where students end up bringing too much of the same item. Instead, assign categories (such as candy, drinks, chips, or mezonos), or pass a checklist up and down the rows for students to sign their names next to what they plan to bring.
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- Giving parents at least two days’ notice is essential. Ideally, inform them as early as the Friday before the siyum.
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- Important: All year long—but especially for a siyum—be mindful of students with food allergies. Even if a student does not have a severe allergy, limited food options can make her feel excluded. Ensuring that she has something safe and enjoyable to eat sends a powerful message of care and consideration.
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- You may also want to set clear guidelines regarding hechsherim and yoshon requirements so that everyone can partake in what is brought.
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- Especially in the upper grades, students often enthusiastically volunteer to prepare more elaborate items such as cheesecakes, decorated cakes, or fruit smoothies. While well-intentioned, these projects may exceed their parents’ financial or time budgets. Be proactive about overseeing who is making what, and keep a close eye on the overall food list.
