11/04/2022
One of the most magnificent celebrations that a Jewish person can participate in is the dedication of a Sefer Torah, to the community. There is a pronouncement in the Torah that encourages all Jews to write a Torah for themselves.
The last Mitzvah of the 613 says, “And now, write for yourselves this song, and teach it to the Children of Israel. Place it into their mouths, in order that this song will be for Me as a witness for the children of Israel."
Dedicating a Sefer Torah usually begins with finding just the right sofer, scribe, to write it. Many of them work in Israel and finding just the right one to fit your vision often takes a lot of research. There is a beautiful custom wherein the scribe leaves the last several letters blank to allow honored guests to participate in the mitzvah.
As is always the case for the Jewish people, a sumptuous meal is provided, aptly called a seudat mitzvah that is similar to the one that is eaten at the conclusion of a Bris.
Apart from the chance to do this glorious mitzvah, the donor can use this opportunity to honor a loved one; be it a family member, an entire family, a Holocaust survivor or sometimes a special milestone.
It’s a full fledged once in a lifetime, up there with life cycles, fabulousness.
This week, my cousins, Ari and Shawn, dedicated a Torah to their father (father in law who was like a father) Jack. Anyone who had the privilege to have known the pure joy that was Jack, would know that it was a fitting honor.
When Jack walked into a room, the lights got brighter and the room felt smaller. The breadth of his dynamic personality filled the place with excitement and adventure. He was a teacher, a writer, a camp director and an honest man of conviction.
When you were a part of Jack’s orbit, child or grown up, you felt good and important.
Jack greeted everyone, friend or soon to be friend, with a special salutation. Even though he may have doubled or tripled up and used the same name for multiple people, the recipient felt that Jack meant the endearment just for you.
Jack’s hearty heartfelt laugh filled any room!
Mostly, Jack was a wonderful father and husband; nothing made him happier than to spend time with his phenomenal kids and grandkids who did their best to make him proud.
They sure did!
In his comments about Jack, the Torah Scholar and Rabbi, J.J. Schachter, commented. “It is the role of the children and grandchildren that a loved one leaves behind to do mitzvot that will give the departed one’s “neshama an aliyah”, for the soul to rise to greater heights. Donating a Sefer Torah”, the ultimate mitzvah, is the one that brings the soul to the highest level”.
All parents invest everything and all that they have into helping their children grow into Bnei Torah. Many will sacrifice vacations, fancy cars and often eat chicken instead of steak so that their child would have a yeshiva education.
HANC parents trust us with these precious souls, it is up to us, the teachers and administrators, to earn that privilege; to make the most of the time we have with our students, to communicate with the parents and keep them in the loop about how their kid is doing.
The best part of the Sefer Torah dedication for me is the welcome. All of the Torah’s that are waiting inside the synagogue come out to greet the newbie to their home. Accompanied by dancing, singing, honored guests and sometimes with tears, the resident Torahs surround the new one and escort the Torah into its new home.
From where I stood with the warm sun on my back, I am sure that I saw Jack’s dancing eyes and magnificent smile as he witnessed all of this simcha from his comfortable perch above. Seeing the long parade of family members and friends who came from near and far to honor him is a testament to a life well lived.
We miss you Jack; we will greet you whenever your Torah is taken out.
Take a moment to reach out to someone you love today!
Shabbat Shalom.
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