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Thousands Celebrate Completion of Historic Sefer Torah in New Jersey

About six years ago, amid the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, a remarkable spiritual initiative was born. The goal was to unite all the Jews who had come into contact with the Bris Avrohom organization during its forty years of activity • Full Story, Photos

The vision of community leader Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky and his wife, Mrs. Shterna Sara Kanelsky, was simple yet profound: to give every Jew the feeling that he or she is part of one large family. Out of this desire for unity and connection, the decision was made to write a communal Sefer Torah.

The project was designed to give every Jew the opportunity to purchase a letter in the Sefer Torah for the symbolic sum of two dollars, thereby fulfilling the Rebbe’s call that every Jew should have a letter in a communal Sefer Torah. At the same time, the organizers saw the initiative as a way to strengthen Jewish identity and inspire additional mitzvah observance.

The response was unprecedented. More than 30,000 Jews registered and purchased letters in the Sefer Torah. Many participants shared that acquiring a letter gave them an opportunity to connect to something greater than themselves and strengthened their bond with the Jewish people.

As the writing of the Torah progressed and the scribes reached Sefer Devarim, a special decision was made to dedicate letters in memory of Jews who had passed away, particularly fallen IDF soldiers, victims of the Holocaust, and countless Jews in Russia who passed away without even receiving a proper gravestone. Participants viewed the purchase of these letters as a tremendous merit for the Aliyah of their Neshamos.

The Siyum took place on Erev Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, during the week of Gimmel Tammuz. On Sunday morning, for approximately two hours, the sofer, Rabbi Shneur Henig, sat together with Rabbi and Mrs. Kanelsky and gave those who had purchased Torah portions the opportunity to physically participate in writing letters in the Sefer Torah.

The event featured many emotional and inspiring moments. Several mothers arrived with their children, explaining that they wanted them to witness firsthand how the Torah unites Jews throughout New Jersey, Eretz Yisroel, Russia, and across the United States.

Another participant, unable to attend because the trip would have required more than three hours of travel, sent his adult children in his place. When asked why it was so important for them to attend, he replied, “I wanted my children to have a share in the Sefer Torah, and I am certain that in this merit they will marry Jewish spouses.”

One of the most memorable moments occurred when a woman serving as Chief of Staff in the administration of the Governor of New Jersey arrived together with her husband and two sons. For this family, which until now had little connection to Jewish life, the event became a historic occasion. The husband and both sons put on Tefillin for the first time in their lives. Organizers noted that many others at the event were likewise privileged to put on Tefillin for the first time.

The final letter in the Sefer Torah was written and dedicated in honor of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin. Immediately afterward, joyous dancing erupted in the streets. The adjacent road was closed to traffic as approximately 500 members of the community participated in a festive procession accompanying the new Torah.

The procession made its way to the Shul, where an extraordinary sight awaited. The congregation’s eleven existing Sifrei Torah were brought outside to welcome the arrival of the newly completed twelfth Sefer Torah.

At the center of the celebration stood Rabbi Kanelsky embracing the Torah, whose mantle bore the slogan that captured the essence of the entire project: “One Nation, One Torah.”

The organization expressed great satisfaction with the success of the initiative, while emphasizing that the mission is far from over.

“This mitzvah has not yet ended,” the organizers stated. “We will continue registering more and more Jews in this Sefer Torah.”

They concluded with a prayer that the Zchus of this project and the Achdus it created among thousands of Jews will help hasten the Geulah and the revelation of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach.

22-06-