Ralph Rieder
Jewish Learning Initiatives
Ralph Rieder has supported several Jewish educational and community-based initiatives connected to Torah study, Jewish identity, and strengthening relationships within the Jewish world. Among the programs associated with his support are Siyum HaShas Daf Yomi, Kesher Yehudi, and Mishna Jr.
Each initiative serves a different purpose, ranging from large-scale Talmud learning and educational programs for students to efforts focused on building understanding between different communities in Israel and abroad.
Torah Outreach
Siyum HaShas Daf Yomi
Siyum HaShas is the global celebration marking the completion of the Daf Yomi cycle, a structured learning program in which participants study one page of the Babylonian Talmud each day over approximately seven and a half years. The program was established by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in 1923 and has grown into one of the most widely recognized organized Torah learning initiatives in the Jewish world. Siyum HaShas gatherings are held internationally and often bring together large numbers of participants to recognize the completion of the cycle and the beginning of the next one.
Kesher Yehudi
Kesher Yehudi is an Israeli organization focused on creating connections between religious and secular Jews through shared learning and personal dialogue. Founded in 2012 by Tzili Schneider, the organization pairs participants from different backgrounds for one-on-one study sessions and conversations centered around Jewish texts, culture, and identity. The organization has also developed community programs, volunteer projects, and educational activities intended to encourage greater understanding and social connection across different sectors of Israeli society.
Mishna Jr.
All Mishnah Jr. is a Torah learning initiative designed for middle school students, providing a structured framework for studying Mishnah in an accessible format. The program encourages consistent participation in Jewish learning through guided study, review systems, and school-based involvement. Organized in partnership with Orthodox Jewish educational institutions, Mishna Jr. has expanded participation across schools in the United States and internationally, helping students engage with foundational Jewish texts at an early stage of learning.
Creating and Building Jewish Community
Ralph Rieder has been a supporter of several Jewish educational and community initiatives centered on Torah study, Jewish identity, and strengthening connections across different parts of the Jewish world, including Siyum HaShas Daf Yomi, Kesher Yehudi, and Mishna Jr.
Siyum HaShas marks the completion of the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle, a long-running program founded by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in 1923 in which participants study one page of Talmud daily over approximately seven and a half years. Today, Daf Yomi learning takes place in synagogues, schools, offices, and online communities around the world, culminating in large international gatherings that bring together participants from many backgrounds to celebrate the completion of the cycle and begin the next one.
Kesher Yehudi, an Israeli organization founded by Tzili Schneider that focuses on building relationships between religious, secular, and ultra-Orthodox Jews through shared learning and dialogue. Ralph Rieder supports the organization’s chavruta model pairs participants from different backgrounds for ongoing one-on-one study sessions and discussions centered on Jewish texts, traditions, and identity. Kesher Yehudi also operates leadership and pre-army academy programs, works with secular mechinot throughout Israel, and has expanded community support initiatives in response to the events following October 7 and the Swords of Iron War. The organization describes its broader goal as encouraging long-term understanding and social cohesion through personal relationships rather than political or ideological debate.
In addition, Ralph Rieder supports Mishna Jr., also known as All Mishnah Jr., a Torah learning initiative developed for middle school students. The program encourages students in grades 5 through 8 to study two Mishnayot each day through a structured learning schedule that operates during the academic year. Organized in partnership with Orthodox Jewish educational institutions and supported through digital learning tools, school participation, and guided study resources, the initiative has expanded significantly in recent years, with thousands of students from dozens of schools participating across North America. The program combines traditional Mishnah learning with accessible study formats designed for younger students, including online tracking systems, daily shiurim, and school-based participation.