Our New Torah

Last Sunday we began our educational programs for celebrating the creation of our brand new Torah. It was a wonderful day. Rabbi Menachem Youlus did a wonderful presentation to prepare everyone for the significance of what we're doing. The letters of the Torah provide a personal pathway for every one to connect with God. It was clear that everyone who participated felt this spirituality. It was sublime. When people came up it was clear that they were: realizing the holiness of the Torah and its history, sincerely praying in the moment for whatever flowed into their hearts, and knew that this scroll will last more than 200 years ... you could see it in everyone's faces - this was a sacred time of connection. And more than 100 people attended.

During the formal program we had five individuals (supported by their spouses and/or families) come up to the table to write a letter on the parchment. The letters were already outlined and you learned how to ink the quill and dab the ink onto the letters. Each person represented a different decade in the history of our sacred community. It was clear that everyone was in the moment and moved by the seriousness and holiness of filling in a letter in the Torah for themselves and as representatives of the entire community.

After a great fleshig lunch, we had two hours of those who had arranged to ink their letter. If you'd like to participate in writing your own Torah by writing a letter in our Torah - contact the office. I don't expect future programs to be as well attended as the first one - but I am confident that we will provide 7-8 opportunities in the coming months to energize individuals and our community through this mitzvah. On September 26th, we will complete the Torah, dedicate it and use on the holiday of Sukkot - hold the date - for a very, very special sacred time.