Daf Yomi cycle concludes and begins

TIME TO PARTY: The Daf Yomi cycle concluded yesterday and starts again today.

An overview of the Babylonian Talmud in this context at the Talmud Blog: Doing Daf Yomi- Guest Post by Yaakov Elman.

Partying in Israel: Jews Celebrate end of 7-year Talmud study cycle: Climactic denouement of the Daf Yomi study cycle of the Talmud staged in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; tens of thousands attend. (Jeremy Sharon, Jerusalem Post).

The rabbis were welcomed into the stadium like rock-stars, with all 11,000 spectators rising to their feet, singing the line from Psalms: “Increase the days of the king so his years continue for generations.”

In New Jersey: New Jersey NFL Stadium to Host 90,000+ to Celebrate Completion of 71/2 Year Cycle of Jewish Talmud Studies, Announces Agudath Israel of America (Business Wire press release).

In Los Angeles: Jewish “Super Bowl:” The Los Angeles Celebration of the Conclusion of the Daf Yomi Cycle (Beverly Hills Courier)

As traditional Jews around the world gather to mark the conclusion of a grueling seven and a half year study cycle of the Talmud, several thousand members of the Los Angeles Orthodox Jewish community will join them at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at 5:15PM, Wednesday August 1st.

In London: An Olympic marathon of their own: London's Haredim celebrate completion of Talmud cycle: In the midst of the Olympic Games, London's ultra-Orthodox Jews mark the completion of the twelfth cycle of Talmud study; rabbi: We have the real Olympic torch. (Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz).

In Toronto: Thousands of Jews celebrate completion of Talmud study (Jacques Gallant, Toronto Star).

Orthodox women are celebrating too: Orthodox women dreaming in Aramaic: Taboo-breaking group of women celebrates completion of 2,711 pages of Talmud study (Yair Ettinger, Haaretz).

And now it begins again:

Talmud: starting all over again

Tuesday, July 31, 2012, Mark Mietkiewicz (The Canadian Jewish News)

The cycle has begun again. The cycle is known as daf yomi, in which a double-sided page of the Talmud is studied daily until this classic work is completed in 7-1/2 years. Whether you are a beginner and want to learn more about the Talmud or an advanced student looking for online resources, read on.

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Congratulations to all those celebrating and best wishes for all those beginning.

UPDATE (2 August): Many more articles on the celebrations have appeared. Here are a few:

Exclusive Interview: Rav Adin Steinsalz: Special interview with rabbi whose commentary project enabled many to enter the Daf Yomi learning cycle (video, Arutz Sheva).

Ultra-Orthodox Jews Mark Talmudic Rites (photo gallery, Time Magazine).

Seven years of Talmud study (photo gallery, Reuters).