Community Corner

Heavy Delays Expected for Meadowlands Talmud Celebration

Largest celebration of Jewish learning in the last 2,000 years planned, organizers say.

A celebration of the Talmud expected to draw nearly 100,000 people to MetLife Stadium could cause major traffic delays Wednesday, the state transportation department said.

Traffic is expected to build in the afternoon and last through the night as attendees travel for the 7 p.m. event, according to the transportation department. Lanes in the area normally closed for construction will be kept open on Routes 3, 120 and 17 until at least 1 a.m. Thursday.

Organizers of Siyum HaShas 2012 have called the sold-out event “the largest celebration of Jewish learning in the last 2,000 years.” Attendees will celebrate the completion of the 2,711 page Talmud, a book of Jewish laws and traditions.

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Many of the participants read daily over seven and a half years, the Jewish Standard reported.

“Once you survive for a certain period of time — one month, two months — it becomes like second nature, like anything else you do every day,” Teaneck resident Jody Eisenman told the newspaper.

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One page from the Talmud can become seven to eight pages when translated into English.

Organizers said they have been working on the event for two years, the Jewish Press reported.

All 93,000 tickets were sold out and organizers plan to bring in about 10,000 folding chairs, the report said. The preparations also include removing the stadium’s goalposts and covering the turf with special markings.

Transit officials said weather conditions could force the event to be rescheduled for Thursday. A decision will be made Wednesday morning.

New Jersey Transit issued an alert warning of large crowds at Secaucus Junction, New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and Newark Penn Station.



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