The Anna and Max Zalcman Torah Learning Center (TLC) is the recipient of a new Torah scroll as a gift from Galit and Alexander Israeli.
“There is always a concern that faded or cracked lettering will appear in an older Torah,” said Rabbi Benzion Friedman, director of the TLC. “If there is even one broken letter in a scroll, it cannot be used for Torah reading.”
After learning that a certain Torah had a broken letter and was not in the best condition, the Israelis were inspired to dedicate a new one to the TLC.
“According to Halacha, all the letters in a Torah must be intact and recognizable. With a new Torah, this concern is greatly alleviated, so there is tremendous excitement over the gift. The Israelis have performed a wonderful mitzvah in providing the TLC with this new Torah,” Rabbi Friedman said.
The Israeli family will present the Torah at a special dedication ceremony on Monday, Sept. 4, at the TLC, 8800 W. 103rd St. in Overland Park, Kansas. The entire community is invited to attend.
The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with the completion of the final letters of the Torah by members of the community and friends and family of the Israelis. Alex Israeli will complete the very last letter. It is a mitzvah to purchase a letter in the Torah and is considered to be as if the donor fulfilled the mitzvah of writing a Torah. Purchasing of letters will be available at the event starting at 10 a.m.
The completion of the Torah will be followed by a parade with music, singing and dancing. The new Torah will be carried under a chuppah (canopy), and parade participants will carry torches.
“There is great festivity when a new Torah is dedicated. It hearkens back to the original giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, which was in a sense the ‘wedding day’ between Hashem and the Jewish nation, and who is not in festive spirits at a wedding?” Rabbi Friedman said.
Following the parade, there will be Hakafot in the sanctuary, during which congregants will dance around the bimah seven times with the new Torah and the current Torahs that are “welcoming” it. The celebration will feature live music throughout and refreshments.
“We look forward to the whole community joining in the simcha,” Rabbi Friedman said.