New Torah Dedication Ceremony!

On Sunday, November 18, a Torah scroll will be ceremoniously inducted for ritual use by the Chabad Jewish Center of Yorktown, Cortlandt & Somers. The scroll will be dedicated during a ceremony, to take place at the Mohansic Elementary School, 704 Locksley Rd, in Yorktown Heights. This will be followed by a musical procession which will escort the Torah to its home, The Chabad of Yorktown Synagogue, an approximately 10 minute walk away. The public is invited to attend this momentous and historic event.

This Torah is written in memory of a truly exceptional women, Mrs. Rochel Leah Heber OBM, mother of Rabbi Yehuda Heber, who passed away one year ago and is sorely missed.

Says Rabbi Yehuda Heber, rabbi of the Chabad of Yorktown: "The Torah represents the unbroken chain of Jewish tradition and survival. The ancient wisdom contained in this scroll is the essence of our identity as Jews, and possessing our own Torah scroll at an academic center of learning is cause for great pride and celebration. We invite all local residents to come partake in this celebration, as we parade down the street with the new Torah. This event truly symbolizes the religious freedom of our beautiful country for people of all backgrounds. My mother was a beacon of strength, wisdom and warmth to so many, and this is a most befitting way to honor her memory."

The completion of a Torah scroll is cause for celebration indeed. All 304,808 letters of the Torah are handwritten by a scribe, using a feather, ink, and authentic parchments. The process is costly and lengthy; it takes over a year to complete! Why does it take so long? Timeless laws apply to a certified Torah scribe, and everything from the character of the scribe to the quality of the parchment and type of ink are carefully prescribed. Furthermore, the shape and size of each of the letters, as well as the spacing of the lines and empty space, must be perfectly done by hand. The slightest error may void a whole segment or even the entire 54-portions. For these reasons, the completion of a Torah is a rare event for a community.

Jewish tradition says that a new Torah is to be welcomed into a community just as one welcomes a bride and groom. Accordingly, the scroll will be carried down the street under a Chuppah (wedding canopy), accompanied by music and dancing. It will then be placed in the Holy Ark at the Chabad synagogue proceeded by the traditional Hakafot. A bagels and lox lunch will follow.

As mentioned, the Torah completion Ceremony will take place at the Mohansic Elementary School, beginning at 11 am. Participants will have the opportunity for a scribe to write their Hebrew name on parchment as a keepsake. Children will partake in a Build-a-Torah workshop, creating a plush stuffed Torah to keep, as well as a Torah flag with an edible stick! At 12pm, the musical procession will begin, as the crowd will escort the Torah down the street to the synagogue.

“It is with extreme honor that we extend an open invitation to the community,” Rabbi Heber said. “With the participation of all of us, adults and children alike, the celebration will truly be a memorable and exciting event to cherish for a long time.

This event is free of charge. RSVP appreciated, not necessary. For more information and to sponsor a portion of the Torah in honor or in memory of a loved one, visit: www.ChabadYorktown.com/Torah. Or call 914-962-1111.